Singapore — On Monday (Jul 29), a 64-year-old Malaysian man has pleaded guilty to illegally staying in Singapore for the past 23 years.
According to an initial report by Channel News Asia, Choo Juan Suan was arrested in Nov 2018 in a flat located at Block 44 Beo Crescent.
Choo was arrested during a random inspection conducted by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA). He was unable to provide proof of his lawful stay in Singapore.
Additionally, the ICA Data Processing Branch could not find any records of Choo entering Singapore through a lawful entry point. There was also no indication as to why or how Choo managed to stay in the country since 1995.
Choo reportedly had a job related to the Hungry Ghost festival auctioning various goods. Money collected from the festival are given to the temple, while Choo received a portion as well.
His laywer, Wee Hong Shern, described it as a “slightly unique” case. The lawyer requested to adjourn the guilty plea as all of Choo’s connections are in Singapore.
Choo is settling personal matters, as he also arranged for a place to stay back in Malaysia. The sentencing is scheduled on Aug 16.
For illegally entering Singapore without a valid pass, Choo may face six months of jail time, three strokes of the cane or be fined S$6,000 in place of the caning./TISG
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