The Police Coast Guard (PCG) arrested 57-year-old Chew Eng Han and 53-year-old Tan Poh Teck this morning for attempting to leave Singapore illegally. Chew has been on bail and was due to commence his sentence tomorrow for conspiracy to commit criminal breach of trust and falsification of accounts.
On 21 February 2018 at about 8.47am, PCG intercepted a motorised sampan in the sea off Pulau Ubin. Chew was found on board together with Tan, who was piloting the motorised sampan. Preliminary investigations suggest that the duo were attempting to depart Singapore illegally from Pulau Ubin to Malaysia. Chew was found with about SGD$5,000 in cash.
Both men were arrested for “Attempting to Leave Singapore Unlawfully at Unauthorized Point of Departure” under the Immigration Act, Chapter 133. Any person found guilty of this offence shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both. Police investigations are ongoing for this offence.
The Police subsequently arrested 61-year-old Chew Eng Soon for abetting the said offence at about 3.40pm on the same day. For abetting the offence, a person can be punished with imprisonment for a term of not less than 6 months and not more than 2 years and shall also be liable to a fine not exceeding $6,000.
Commander of the Police Coast Guard, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Hsu Sin Yun said, "PCG will continue to safeguard our waters and sea borders against crime and security threats, including unauthorised entry into and departure from Singapore. The arrest is yet another testament and commitment to PCG’s mission, which is to prevent, deter and detect crime in the Singapore Territorial waters.”
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
21 February 2018 @ 5:00 PM