Missing couple who allegedly failed to deliver luxury goods to buyers fled S'pore in lorry container compartment: ICA

SINGAPORE — A couple who went missing after allegedly failing to deliver luxury watches and bags fled Singapore by hiding in the container compartment of a lorry, said the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on Wednesday (July 20).

ICA said in response to TODAY's queries that a 40-year-old Malaysian man helped the couple leave Singapore illegally by allegedly hiding them in a lorry.

"ICA takes a serious view of attempts to enter or depart Singapore illegally and will not hesitate to prosecute offenders for such cases," said an ICA spokesperson.

"We are working closely with the relevant authorities on this case."

Arrest warrants and Interpol notices have been issued against the couple, the police said earlier on Wednesday.

In a separate statement on Wednesday night, the police named the man as Pi Jiapeng and the woman as Pansuk Siriwipa, a Thai.

"The police are appealing for information from the public on their whereabouts," the police said.

Anyone with information is requested to call the police hotline at 1800-255-0000 (+65 6255 0000 for overseas callers) or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness.

"All information received will be kept strictly confidential," the police said.

At least 180 reports involving two companies, Tradenation and Tradeluxury, have been made to police from June to date.

The complainants said they made advance payments to the company for luxury watches or bags, but the companies did not deliver the products.

Last Wednesday, the police arrested a 40-year-old Malaysian man who allegedly helped the couple to leave Singapore on July 4.

He was charged two days after his arrest for abetting another person to depart Singapore illegally.

ICA said that it conducts checks on all arrivals and "adopts a risk management approach" for checks on departing conveyances, in order to balance smooth departure clearance and border security at the checkpoints.

Departing conveyances may be directed for further checks based on risk profiling or any information received, the ICA spokesperson said. WITH CNA