Two Malaysians arrested for trying to leave Singapore by swimming

Two Malaysian men, aged 37 and 39, were arrested for attempting to leave Singapore by swimming to Malaysia while holding trash bags over their heads to conceal themselves.

In a statement, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said at about 4.40am today, officers at the Woodlands Checkpoint spotted two black trash bags floating near the shoreline along the Causeway.

Sensing something amiss, the officers conducted checks and detected two persons swimming near the shoreline towards Malaysia.

The preliminary investigation showed that the two immigration offenders had overstayed in Singapore.

The ICA takes a serious view of attempts to overstay, enter or depart Singapore illegally.

Under the Immigration Act (Cap 133), the penalties for overstaying or illegal entry are a jail term of up to six months plus a minimum of three strokes of the cane, while the penalties for illegal departure are a fine of up to S$2,000 (S$1=RM3), a jail term of up to six months, or both.