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SINGAPORE : An illegal immigrant and an accomplice who tried to smuggle him out of Singapore were charged in court on Thursday.
The immigrant, a 39-year-old China national, had overstayed in Singapore after his work permit was cancelled.
He met his accomplice, a 27-year-old Malaysian, at a Kranji coffeeshop in May.
The Malaysian claimed to be in financial hardship and agreed to take the illegal immigrant out of Singapore for 1,200 ringgit, or S$520.
On Wednesday, he picked up the China national in Marsiling and told him to hide in the car boot.
At the checkpoint, an Immigration and Checkpoints Authority officer noticed that the Malaysian was uneasy and ordered checks, which revealed the hidden passenger.
The driver and his "illegal passenger" were immediately arrested.
Under the Immigration Act, the penalties for overstaying or illegal entry are a maximum jail term of six months and at least three strokes of the cane.
The penalties for illegal exit is a fine of up to S$2,000, a maximum jail term of six months, or both.
For abetting the illegal exit of the China national, the Malaysian could face a maximum jail term of two years and a fine of up to S$6,000. - CNA/ms
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