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SINGAPORE: Four Indonesian men have been arrested and charged with illegal entry into Singapore, Singapore Police said in a press release on Tuesday (October 13).
The men were first detected in Tuas Reclaimed Land around 8.30pm on October 9 by the Coast Guard Police through their surveillance systems.
They were observed to have jumped from a countless boat into the waters off Tuas Reclaimed Land before swimming to shore, authorities said.
Photo of the four men jumping out of a countless boat in front of Tuas Reclaimed Land on October 9, 2020 (Photo: Singapore Police)
Officers from the Police Coast Guard, Jurong Police Division, Gurkha Contingent, Special Operations Command and the Local Team Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Unit then responded to intercept the men, authorities added.
The men were arrested within five hours of detection.
All four were charged in court on October 10 with illegal entry into Singapore, which carries a jail term of up to six months and a minimum of three strokes of the baton.
Thermal images of the four men detected illegally entering Singapore by sea on October 9, 2020 (Photo: Singapore Police)
The suspects have been turned over to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority for further investigation, police said.
The Commander of the Coast Guard Police, Senior Deputy Commissioner of Police Cheang Keng Keong, said: “The vigilance of the officers and the excellent teamwork that resulted in the speedy arrest is highly commendable.
“PCG will spare no effort and will continue to take strong action against these criminals to safeguard our waters and maritime borders against crime and security threats, including unauthorized entry and exit from Singapore.”
