Man gets 10 months’ jail for checkpoint breach

SINGAPORE — The man who drove through a security barrier at Woodlands Checkpoint in March — damaging government property and injuring an officer in the process — was sentenced to 10 months’ jail and a S$1,400 fine yesterday.

Tan Chu Seng, 64, was also ordered to compensate the Government S$2,800 for the damaged cat-claw barrier, after a district judge dismissed his lawyer’s claims that he had committed the offences because he was hungry and rushing to make a delivery.

The incident sparked a five-hour islandwide manhunt, but lawyer S Radakrishnan said his client, a Malaysian and Singapore permanent resident, did not realise the consequences of his acts even after leaving the checkpoint. Tan, who was a deliveryman, was “primarily focused” on completing the delivery of six suits to two shopping centres, Mr Radakrishnan said. He surrendered himself later that night, the lawyer noted, adding that Tan was a “simple man” who did not receive substantial education.

The arguments, however, cut no ice with District Judge Ng Peng Hong. Describing Tan as a businessman dealing in contraband cigarettes, the judge said he did not accept the argument that Tan had committed the offences because of a lack of mental competence.

Tan’s actions were “highly deliberate and calculated” and reflected a total disregard for authority, the judge added. “A custodial sentence is warranted as public interest was at stake. Deterrence must form the centre stage (in this case) to send a strong message to the accused and would-be offenders that (such offences) to defer customs inspections must be seriously dealt with,” he said.

The judge said he took into consideration factors such as Tan’s financial difficulties and age in his sentencing.

Tan’s offences included mischief, leading to damage of the cat-claw security barrier; causing hurt by his rash act; and dealing in contraband cigarettes.

On March 8, Tan was tasked to deliver the suits and was running late when he reached the checkpoint. Not wanting to “waste time and risk being late for his delivery”, he drove off before customs checks were completed, Mr Radakrishnan said. A panic alarm was activated and the cat-claw security barrier was raised to stop Tan, but he continued to accelerate and managed to drive through.

In the process, Tan’s car also injured auxiliary police officer Safie Mahrom, who was given six days of medical leave. Tan’s Mercedes Benz was found that day at 8.30pm and he was arrested at 9.15pm.

Investigations have revealed that after driving through the checkpoint, Tan met a man named Tay Hock Seng at a car park in Ang Mo Kio and sold him 20 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes for S$800. Tan said he had bought them from a peddler in Kranji for S$640 after arriving in Singapore. Tay has also been arrested.

Only seven weeks before Tan’s offence, a Malaysian teacher, who was found to be of unsound mind and let go of by the authorities, drove through the same checkpoint and managed to remain undetected for three days.

In a span of four months this year, four people were arrested for trying to evade immigration at Woodlands Checkpoint.