Deprivation of Singapore Citizenship for a 58 year-old Naturalised Singapore Citizen

1.     Mick Davies (Davies), a 58-year-old naturalised Singapore Citizen of PRC origin, was served a Notice of Proposed Deprivation of Citizenship on 5 March 2018, under Article 133(1) of the Constitution ("Notice of Proposed Deprivation").

Background

2.     Davies, a businessman, obtained Singapore citizenship (SC) by registration in 2002.  At the point of his SC application, there was no adverse information against him.  Born Lan Shili, he had changed names a few times, first to Jack Thomson in 2013 and then to Mick Davies in 2014.

Run-Ins with the Law

3.     Davies was imprisoned in China for tax evasion in 2010. He was also investigated by the Chinese authorities for fraud in 2016. Although his Singapore passport had been impounded by the Chinese authorities then, he fled China illegally, and thereafter entered Vietnam illegally. Davies then tried to obtain a replacement travel document at the Singapore Mission in Hanoi by falsely declaring that he had lost his Singapore passport.

4.     When Davies failed to obtain a replacement travel document, he left Vietnam and entered Singapore using a foreign passport bearing the particulars of another person.  However, ICA uncovered the illegal entry two weeks later, and Davies was arrested, charged and sentenced to imprisonment for multiple immigration offences related to his entry into Singapore without valid travel documents.

5.     Investigations into his immigration offences also revealed that Davies had provided forged educational certificates to support his SC application in 2002.  He was further found to have concealed and failed to declare in the application, that he had previously held the passport (and thus citizenship) of a third country.

6.     The Government takes a very serious view of persons who commit fraud, provide false information or conceal material facts during their application for any Singapore immigration facility, including SC.  Those found to have done so will be dealt with firmly in accordance with the law.  This may include having their immigration facilities deprived or revoked, as provided for under the Constitution and the Immigration Act.

7.     After due consideration that Davies' SC had been obtained by fraudulent means, false representation and concealment of material facts, and that he had flouted immigration laws locally and abroad, the Minister for Home Affairs intends to deprive him of his SC, as it is not conducive to the public good for him to remain a Singapore citizen.

8.     Davies may apply for his case to be referred to a Citizenship Committee of Inquiry (CCOI) within 21 days of the date of receipt of the Notice of Proposed Deprivation.  The CCOI will then hold an inquiry and submit a report to the Minister who will have regard to the report before deciding whether to proceed to deprive him of his SC.