World · Singapore Bureau
Woman held after 19 years of illegal residence in Singapore
A 68-year-old woman has been sentenced after surrendering to immigration authorities in early October following nearly two decades of staying illegally in Singapore. She turned herself in alongside her husband after facing financial hardship.
LSN Singapore ·
The woman, aged 68, presented herself to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on October 6 after exhausting her means of financial support while residing unlawfully in Singapore. Immigration officials subsequently prosecuted her for the extended period of unauthorised stay spanning 19 years. She was convicted and sentenced accordingly, with her husband also facing legal consequences related to the matter. The case highlights the authority's continued enforcement of immigration regulations and its approach to individuals found to be in breach of Singapore's residency requirements. The ICA regularly conducts operations to identify and process foreigners overstaying in the country, with penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment and mandatory deportation.