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A 54-year-old Chinese woman, Chen Yueying, was sentenced to six months in jail and fined S$4,000 on Friday (Sep 27) for overstaying in Singapore for over 18 years. Chen had been in the country illegally since November 2005 after her special pass expired.
Initially, Chen was granted a special pass on Nov 2, 2005, allowing her to stay in Singapore until Nov 23, 2005, as she was required as a prosecution witness in a case. However, when her repatriation date arrived, she failed to show up and remained in Singapore illegally for nearly 19 years. Chen eventually turned herself in at Bukit Merah East Neighbourhood Police Centre on Sep 24, 2023.
This was not Chen's first offence. In 2005, she had been jailed for 18 weeks and fined S$3,000 for a previous immigration violation. After serving her sentence, she was given another special pass while waiting to serve as a witness. However, her final pass expired on Nov 23, 2005, when she was supposed to report for repatriation.
In court, the prosecutor emphasized the severity of Chen’s actions, noting her lengthy overstay and repeat offences. The prosecutor requested the maximum six-month jail sentence, along with an increased fine compared to her previous conviction.
Chen, speaking through a Mandarin interpreter, asked for leniency but offered no substantial defense. She explained that she was unable to pay the fine and would serve an additional eight weeks in jail instead.
Overstaying in Singapore is considered a serious crime. While male offenders face both imprisonment and caning, women are subject to a fine in lieu of caning. The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) reiterated that penalties for overstaying are strict, and they conduct regular enforcement checks to catch offenders. The public is also encouraged to report suspected immigration offences and employers are urged to verify the legal status of foreign workers before hiring.
Source: https://www.channelnewsasia.com
