The Police have arrested nine men, aged between 30 and 42, for their suspected involvement in the theft of scrap metals from a moving barge at sea.
On 19 April 2022 at about 10.30pm, the Police Coast Guard (PCG) detected one suspicious sampan alongside a moving barge, which was towed by a foreign-registered tugboat at sea of Kusu Island, Singapore. PCG patrol resources immediately responded and intercepted the suspicious sampan. Six men was found on board the barge and a search revealed another two men hiding on board. The eight men were purportedly not in possession of any valid travel documents.
Preliminary investigations also revealed that one of the crew from the foreign-registered tugboat had allegedly conspired with the eight men to trespass on board the barge to steal the scrap metals. He was placed under arrest together with the eight men who were believed to have entered Singapore unlawfully. The sampan, some scrap metals and a knife were seized as case exhibits.
The nine men will be charged in court on 21 April 2021 for theft in dwelling under Section 380 of the Penal Code 1871. The offence carries a punishment of imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and a fine. The punishment of unlawful entry into Singapore under Section 6(1) of the Immigration Act 1959 carries penalties for a jail term of up to six months and a minimum of three strokes of the cane.
The PCG will continue to take firm action against offenders to safeguard our territorial waters and sea borders against crime and security threats.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
20 April 2022 @ 10:35 AM