SINGAPORE: An Indonesian citizen who repeatedly dared to enter Singapore illegally was sentenced again, this time to one and a half years in prison and nine lashes.
The man named Brick previously served four terms in prison and was caned 25 times for the same offence.
The “Singa” district court sentenced Brick Monday (April 8), after the Immigration Authority (ICA) arrested him in March 2024 for not having a passport and residence permit in Singapore.
Brick’s criminal track record was detected through an ICA fingerprint check.
The 26-year-old was first jailed in May 2017 for similar offences, sentenced to six weeks in prison and caned four times.
However, half a year later, in January 2018, he was again thrown into prison for 14 weeks and caned six times for the same act.
Brick was arrested again in July 2019 and sentenced to 18 weeks in prison and seven lashes.
The perpetrator never deterred. He again crossed from Batam to Singapore for the fourth time.
The judge increased his sentence in November 2019 to one year in prison and eight lashes.
Even though he was deported and banned from entering Singapore starting July 10 2020, Brick did not give up.
He managed to enter Singapore secretly at the end of June 2023 using a dinghy, before jumping into the sea and swimming until he reached land in Tuas, East Singapore.
Brick then lived illegally in Singapore for nine months before being arrested last month.
Brick pleaded for a lighter sentence due to family reasons and his mother’s illness.
However, the judge considered his ongoing criminal history to indicate serious non-compliance, and decided to impose a harsher sentence than that sought by prosecutors.
