Nurul Syuhaida Channel NewsAsia 16 Jan 12;
SINGAPORE: The Police Coast Guard (PCG) said from 2009 to 2011, the number of suspicious boats entering Singapore waters declined by half, to 170.
The latest incident, involving two Singaporean human smugglers and a female illegal immigrant from China, took place on 14 January.
A vessel was used by 56-year-old boatman Chua Kim Hai and his assistant, 40-year-old Andrew Cheng in human smuggling.
Their client was 37-year-old Chinese National Lu Yun Lan, but she was unsuccessful in her attempt to enter Singapore.
On Saturday at about 9pm, officers spotted two suspicious boats near Tanjong Tajam Beacon off the western tip of Pulau Ubin.
As the officers neared, the boat carrying Lu beached near Punggol Jetty, while the other headed into Malaysian waters.
Lu jumped off the boat and was later found hiding in a bush.
She did not have any valid travel documents and had about 1,000 RMB (S$200) with her.
The boatmen were arrested off Punggol Marina, after a short chase at sea.
DSP Julian Chen, commanding officer, Loyang Regional Base, Police Coast Guard, said: "This latest arrest has again demonstrated PCG's determination to keep our waters safe by dealing with perpetrators decisively. We will continue to be vigilant and persist in our efforts to enforce our sea borders' security."
All three offenders were charged in court on Monday. Lu was charged with unlawful entry and the boatmen were charged with smuggling an illegal immigrant.
Lu could be sentenced to six months' jail and fined up to S$6,000 while the boatmen face a maximum jail term of between two and five years, plus three strokes of the cane.
- CNA/cc/ck
