A 72-year-old Malaysian man has been sentenced to jail and fined after overstaying in Singapore for 19 years. The man, identified as Lin Guifa, was arrested on 27 November near 83 Genting Lane, an industrial building in the MacPherson area.
According to court documents reported by Lianhe Zaobao, Lin was unable to produce any documents to show that he was legally allowed to remain in Singapore. He was then handed over to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority for further investigations.
Entered Singapore in 2006, Never Left
Investigations revealed that Lin had entered Singapore in 2006 using a social visit pass through Woodlands Checkpoint. ICA records showed that he last officially departed Singapore on 26 June that year.
However, there were no records of any subsequent re-entry. Lin later admitted that he had never left Singapore after that date and had also never applied to extend his stay. The authorities did not disclose how his offence was eventually uncovered.
Lin told the authorities that he supported himself by working as a karang guni man during his time in Singapore. He collected old and discarded items to earn a living and survived this way for nearly two decades without a valid immigration status.
Lin appeared in court via video link on 11 December, where he pleaded guilty to one charge of violating immigration laws. He appeared visibly frail, seated in a wheelchair, and asked the court for leniency.
He told the court that his legs were weak and that standing and walking had become difficult. He also said that he believed he had only “one or two years left to live” and expressed hope of returning to Johor Bahru to spend his remaining years in a nursing home.
Sentenced to Jail and Fine, Avoids Caning Due to Age
The court sentenced Lin to six months in prison and imposed a fine of S$2,000. He avoided caning due to his age.
Under Singapore law, overstaying for more than 90 days carries a punishment of up to six months’ jail and at least three strokes of the cane, or a fine of up to S$6,000 in lieu of caning.
