Migration has become a common feature of globalised economies, with more and more people seeking opportunities outside their home countries. Like many other countries, Singapore has a substantial migrant population. With an increasing number of foreigners within our borders, and a constant inflow of foreigners, enforcement agencies must be prepared to deal with its related challenges.

Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) has in recent years, investigated many foreigners in immigration related corruption cases. These include corrupt acts to prolong their stay in Singapore through false declarations, false marriages, and scapegoat arrangements. The following are some of the scenarios which CPIB came across.  

Bribery of Enforcement Officer to Falsify Reason to Prolong Stay

In one case in 2006, an investigation officer accepted bribes from foreigners who wanted to prolong their stay in Singapore. He would fraudulently inform immigration authorities, that the said foreigners were prosecution witnesses required for police investigation. They would then be issued special passes to prolong their stay in Singapore.

Investigations revealed that the investigation officer had issued 21 falsified official minutes to immigration authorities and helped a total of 53 female foreigners to illegally extend their stay in Singapore. He was charged with 53 counts of corruption and forgery offences and sentenced to four years' imprisonment as well as a S$26,500 fine.

False Notice of Marriage to Extend Stay

In a false marriage set up, a foreigner applies for an extension of his/her Social Visit Pass on the pretense that he/she intends to marry a Singaporean. A notice of marriage is filed but after getting their extension, the registered parties either withdraw their application or simply do not turn up at the Registry of Marriages.

We have dealt with cases where a syndicate ran "marriage scam" business by helping foreigners to illegally extend their stay in Singapore in return for money. Through their network of friends and middlemen, they arrange for "fake" husbands to file for false Notices of Marriage.

One such "fake" husband agreed to let his friend use his identity card to file a notice of marriage with a foreigner in exchange for S$200. After investigations revealed his complicity, he was charged for committing an offence under the National Registration Act and sentenced to six months' imprisonment

Foreign Singer Made False Statement to the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority

In April 2005, a foreigner came to Singapore under the Professional Visit Pass. She was registered as a singer with a Karaoke Television (KTV) establishment. A few months later, she decided not to sing anymore but wanted to continue her stay in Singapore.

Through her agent, she made an arrangement for the KTV establishment to falsely maintain her employment contract as a singer without her actually fulfilling it. In this arrangement, she would have to pay S$800 to the employing KTV establishment and S$200 to the agent every month.

When re-applying for her Professional Visit Pass, she falsely stated that she was a singer at the KTV knowing full well that she would not be fulfilling her contractual obligations. After investigations, she was charged under the Immigration Act and sentenced to four weeks' imprisonment with a S$2,000 fine.

Singaporean Entered a Fall Guy Arrangement with Two Foreigners

In exchange for bribes, a Singaporean entered into a fall guy arrangement with two foreigners and registered himself as the owner of two massage parlours providing illegal services. In this arrangement, he helped the foreigners obtain permits to run the massage parlours and would assume criminal liability on their behalf if the outlets were raided by the authorities.

After investigations, he was charged for committing an offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act and was sentenced to two months' imprisonment and ordered to pay a penalty of S$1,000.

Conclusion

In most cases involving immigration related corruption, the modus operandi involves some form of deception on the part of offenders in order to extend their stay and/or gain access to opportunities in the country involved. This is usually done in collusion with locals who are willing to take bribes in exchange for illegal services.

CPIB takes a serious view of immigration-related offences and will not hesitate to press for custodian sentences for all parties involved. Offenders have been imposed with sentences ranging from a few months to several years and in addition to their sentences, all foreigners involved were repatriated.

When dealing with immigration related corruption, CPIB also works closely with other relevant agencies to bring offenders to justice. Such inter-agency cooperation aids investigations and significantly improves the chances of detection. This, coupled with our tough stance on such offences creates a strong deterrence for potential offenders and enables us to carry out enforcement more effectively.