Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on the Case of Two Chinese Nationals who Overstayed for 15 Years

Question:

Mr Leong Mun Wai: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs (a) why and how were two Chinese nationals able to remain in Singapore illegally for 13 and 15 years respectively before being arrested; (b) when and how does the Ministry take enforcement actions after it is notified that a foreigner’s work pass has been cancelled; and (c) in the last five years, what is the median duration of unlawfully remaining in Singapore for overstayers who are arrested.

Answer:

Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law:

1.   The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) takes a serious view of foreigners who overstay. The penalties for overstaying more than 90 days are a jail term of up to six months and a minimum of three strokes of the cane.

2.   ICA also takes strong action against persons who abet the offenders. Homeowners who are found guilty of harbouring immigration offenders may be sentenced to imprisonment of between six months and two years, or a fine up to $6,000, or both.

3.   ICA and the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) conduct specific checks at the last known residential and employment addresses of foreigners who have remained in Singapore beyond the validity of their pass. ICA also conducts operations regularly against immigration offenders in general. It was during such an operation that the two Chinese nationals were detected and arrested.

4.   Employers and homeowners must exercise due diligence and ensure that a prospective foreign employee or tenant's immigration status in Singapore is legal, before offering employment or renting out their premises. Checks should include ensuring that the particulars on the immigration pass or work pass tally with the passport, as well as verifying the validity of the pass through the ICA or MOM website, or MOM's SGWorkPass app.

5.   In the last five years from 2018 to 2022, the median duration of foreigners who overstayed in Singapore and were arrested is about three months.

6.   Nonetheless, regardless of our measures, some may be able to evade detection and arrest. For these two particular cases, there are ongoing investigations into other individuals involved. We are unable to provide further information at this stage.