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| Southeast Asia |
| Two held over swim |
| 2004-01-05 |
| Two men have been arrested for allegedly trying to leave Singapore illegally by swimming across the kilometre-wide Johor Strait to Malaysia, police said today. Hummm The two men, aged 18 and 28, were arrested late yesterday after coast guard patrol vessels pulled them out of the water for trying to leave the city-state by ``unauthorised means,’’ said a statement posted on the Singapore police Web site. Both men claim to be Malaysians, it said. It was not immediately clear why the men, who used plastic drinking bottles and a piece of styrofoam as floats, were trying to leave Singapore. Most people try to sneak into Singapore looking for work. Police have been on alert for possible terrorists since the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States. Singapore is one of Washington’s closest Asian allies and supported the US-led war in Iraq. They’ve been very active jugging the bad guys. Illegal workers flock to the wealthy South-East Asian nation in search of jobs mostly shunned by locals in the construction and services industries. Last month, police arrested 11 foreigners, mostly from Burma, who used makeshift floats or life jackets given to them by smugglers in neighbouring Johor, Malaysia. Yup, anyone trying to swim out of Singapore raises eyebrows. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #4 If they tried something like this in the USA, there would be an outcry like you wouldn't believe. Enforcing the country's laws on immigration and visas? Unheard-of. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2004-1-6 2:25:08 AM |
| #3 Many countries have checks on people leaving the country, that ensures they entered legally. Try leaving Australia without proof you entered legally and didn't over stay and you will end up in the slammer. Same for Singapore. The police regularly round up illegals who are often responsible for property crimes and prostitution. Almost all the illegals in Singapore come to make money and then leave. Catching them on the way out is a big a deterrent as catching them on the way in. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2004-1-5 6:31:39 PM |
| #2 Leave Singapore "illegally"? Singapore is very serious about people following their laws. You check in through customs, you check out through customs. Simple and easy, if you have your papers. Either they were there illegally and wanted to go home for a visit, or they were on the wanted list. Or both. |
| Posted by: Steve 2004-1-5 1:48:48 PM |
| #1 Two men have been arrested for allegedly trying to leave Singapore illegally by swimming across the kilometre-wide Johor Strait to Malaysia, police said today. Leave Singapore "illegally"? |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2004-1-5 12:01:32 PM |