Two caught trying to depart Singapore illegally via Causeway pipeline

SINGAPORE — Two Myanmar nationals were arrested this morning (Feb 9) while trying depart Singapore illegally by walking along the water pipeline towards Malaysia.

The pair were first spotted by the Police Coast Guard at about 4.05am. Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers at the Woodlands Checkpoint were immediately deployed and managed to locate and arrest the two men, aged 26 and 42, at about 4.15am.

The two men were found with inflated bicycle tubes, suspected to be used as floatation devices, said the ICA and the Police in a joint statement. Preliminary investigations showed that the two men were immigration offenders who had overstayed in Singapore.

Under the Immigration Act, the duo could face a jail term of up to six months plus a minimum of three strokes of the cane for overstaying in the Singapore. Additionally, they may also face penalties for illegal departure — a jail term of up to six months, or a fine of up to S$2,000, or both.

Investigations are ongoing.