Woman, 68, jailed 6 months for overstaying in Singapore for more than 19 years

A 68-year-old Chinese national who remained illegally in Singapore for more than 19 years after failing to report for repatriation was sentenced to six months' jail and fined $2,000 on Wednesday (Oct 21).

According to charge sheets seen by AsiaOne, Ding Hui Yun remained in Singapore illegally for 19 years, two months and 23 days after her special pass, issued on June 22, 2007, expired on July 13, 2007.

She was allowed to remain in Singapore temporarily in 2007 as a prosecution witness after being convicted of an immigration offence, according to CNA.

However, she failed to report to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority's (ICA) repatriation branch when her special pass expired in July that year.

During her time in Singapore, Ding reportedly worked odd jobs.

She surrendered to ICA on Oct 6 this year, along with her husband, after she could no longer support herself in Singapore.

Ding pleaded guilty to one charge under the Immigration Act of remaining in Singapore illegally after her special pass expired.

A second charge of failing to comply with the pass conditions by not reporting for repatriation was taken into consideration during sentencing.

If she is unable to pay the $2,000 fine, she will have to serve an additional 12 days in jail.

Avoid repatriation to escape debtors in China

The court heard that Ding was convicted in May 2007 of an immigration offence involving unlawful entry or presence in Singapore, for which she was sentenced to four weeks' jail and fined $1,500 in lieu of caning, CNA reported.

The prosecution said she wanted to remain in Singapore because her family in China was in debt and she wanted to avoid her debtors.

The prosecution confirmed that her husband had been scheduled to plead guilty to a similar offence on Wednesday, but was unable to attend because he was unwell.

He is due to plead guilty next week, and is accused of remaining illegally in Singapore for more than 18 years and 10 months.

Under the Immigration Act, those who remain illegally in Singapore after their special passes expire can face up to six months' jail and at least three strokes of the cane.

xingying.koh@asiaone.com

一名68岁的中国公民在新加坡非法滞留超过19年，且未按规定报到接受遣返，于周三（10月21日）被判处六个月监禁并罚款2000美元。

据 AsiaOne 看到的起诉书显示，丁慧云在新加坡非法滞留了 19 年 2 个月零 23 天，她的特别通行证于 2007 年 6 月 22 日签发，于 2007 年 7 月 13 日到期。

据亚洲新闻台报道，她于 2007 年因移民犯罪被定罪后，获准暂时留在新加坡作为控方证人。

然而，当年7月她的特别通行证到期时，她却没有向移民与关卡局（ICA）的遣返部门报到。

据报道，丁在新加坡期间曾做过各种零工。

今年10月6日，她和丈夫一起向新加坡移民与关卡局自首，因为她已无法在新加坡维持生计。

丁承认违反《移民法》的一项指控，即在特别准证到期后非法滞留在新加坡。

在量刑时，考虑到了第二项指控，即未按规定遵守通行条件，未按时报到遣返。

如果她无法支付 2000 美元的罚款，她将不得不额外服刑 12 天。

避免遣返在中国的逃债者

据亚洲新闻台报道，法庭获悉，丁某于2007年5月因非法入境或滞留新加坡而被判犯有移民罪，被判处四周监禁并罚款1500新元，以代替鞭刑。

检方称，她想留在新加坡是因为她在中国的家人负债累累，她想躲避债主。

检方证实，她的丈夫原定于周三对类似罪行认罪，但因身体不适未能出庭。

他将于下周认罪，被控在新加坡非法居留超过18年10个月。

根据《移民法》，持有特别通行证后仍非法滞留在新加坡的人，最高可判处六个月监禁和至少三下鞭刑。

邢莹.koh@asiaone.com