Man gets 6 months' jail for harbouring 2 immigration offenders in Bedok Reservoir flat
SINGAPORE — A 53-year-old man was sentenced to six months’ jail on Tuesday (Nov 14) after harbouring two immigration offenders from China in his Bedok Reservoir flat.

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) Building in Singapore.
- Lim Sin Kian, 53, harboured two women from China in his own flat in Bedok Reservoir
- The two were Zhao Shunnu, 58, and Jin Xiannu, 60
- Lim learnt that the two were overstayers in Singapore but let them continue to stay in the flat
- He was sentenced to six months’ jail
SINGAPORE — A 53-year-old man was sentenced to six months’ jail on Tuesday (Nov 14) after harbouring two immigration offenders from China in his Bedok Reservoir flat.
Lim Sin Kian harboured Zhao Shunnu, 58, and Jin Xiannu, 60, both China nationals, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said in a statement.
He was convicted for harbouring Zhao and a separate charge for harbouring Jin was taken into consideration during sentencing.
ICA said: “Despite knowing Zhao and Jin were foreigners, Lim did not exercise due diligence to check their identification documents and verify whether their stay in Singapore was valid.”
Zhao and Jin were arrested by ICA officers on Aug 30 for remaining unlawfully in Singapore after the expiry of their visit passes on May 23, 2009, and April 24, 2006, respectively.
The two women were each sentenced to six months’ jail. On top of that, Zhao was fined S$2,500 and Jin was fined S$3,500.
ICA's investigations found that in January 2021, Zhao rented a room in Lim's flat at Bedok Reservoir for S$550 a month.
In June that same year, Jin rented another room in the same flat after he was introduced to Lim by Zhao, also for S$550 a month.
Lim learnt that Zhao and Jin were overstayers in June this year and told them to move out of the flat. However, he continued to allow them to stay there until Aug 30.
He had thus committed an offence of harbouring immigration offenders under the Immigration Act, ICA said.
The authority said that it takes a firm stance against any person who harbours immigration offenders.
Anyone who wish to lease their premises must exercise due diligence in checking the status of their prospective foreign tenants to ensure that their status in Singapore is legal, ICA added.
They are required to conduct three mandatory checks to check the tenant’s original immigration or work pass and cross-check the particulars on his or her pass against the particulars on his or her original passport.
They should also verify the validity of a pass by checking with the issuing authority, such as the Ministry of Manpower for work passes and the ICA for immigration passes.
If found guilty of recklessly or knowingly harbouring overstayers or illegal immigrants, or both, an offender faces a jail term of between six months and two years and a fine of up to S$6,000.
For negligently harbouring overstayers or illegal immigrants, or both, an offender may be jailed for up to 12 months or fined up to S$6,000, or both.