Gaps in detecting active police Gazette individuals at Singapore’s border and enhancements to strengthen cross-agency identity verification and biometric matching

Question:

Mr Yip Hon Weng: To ask the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs (a) how an individual on an active police gazette was able to enter Singapore repeatedly over many years, including after submitting personal particulars to public agencies, without being apprehended; and (b) what enhancements, if any, have strengthened cross-agency identity verification and biometric matching to prevent wanted persons from evading detection using different identity documents.

Answer:

Mr K Shanmugam, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs:

1. Singapore adopts a multi-layered approach to identify and intercept persons of security or law enforcement interest.

2. The case referred to by the Member involved an individual associated with multiple identities. There was an error in the handling of the case which then allowed him to enter and leave Singapore. The relevant agencies have since strengthened their processe s, including through the leveraging of biometrics and the use of data analytics to identify persons of interest with multiple identities. This includes the launch of the Multi-Modal Biometrics System in 2020 by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) which captures multiple biometrics of travellers arriving and departing from Singapore.

3. Government agencies also routinely share relevant information with each other to enhance screening capabilities and support enforcement operations. Such information sharing enables persons of interest to be detected at multiple touchpoints, including when they transact with Government agencies.

4. For operational and security reasons, the Ministry is unable to disclose details of our operational systems and capabilities.