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Indonesian Man Jailed & Caned for Illegal Entry after Swimming to Singapore

 




A 49-year-old Indonesian man has been sentenced to a jail term and corporal punishment for entering Singapore illegally by swimming from Batam in a desperate attempt to find work and support his family. Jamaludin Taipabu was sentenced on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, to six weeks' imprisonment and three strokes of the cane after pleading guilty to a charge under the Immigration Act.

The court heard that Jamaludin, facing significant financial difficulties and an insufficient salary in Indonesia, made the decision to enter Singapore illegally to earn money. He sought the assistance of a friend identified only as "Azwar" in court documents, agreeing to pay him 5 million Indonesian Rupiah (approximately $305 USD) to facilitate the illegal journey.

The plan was executed in mid-September of last year. At approximately 11:00 p.m., Jamaludin met Azwar along a beach in Batam. He boarded a speedboat captained by Azwar and remained crouched and concealed for approximately 90 minutes as the vessel traveled toward Singaporean waters. When they reached their destination, Azwar instructed Jamaludin to jump into the sea.

Using an improvised flotation device, Jamaludin swam for about an hour before reaching an unknown shoreline in Singapore, successfully entering the country without detection. Once in Singapore, he managed to evade authorities for approximately 11 months by working odd jobs and selling contraband cigarettes to sustain himself and send money home.

His illegal stay ended on August 12 of this year when officers from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority arrested him in the vicinity of Sungei Kadut in the Woodlands district. When apprehended, he could not produce any valid travel documents or evidence of legal stay in Singapore. While there were no official movement records indicating his legal entry, authorities were able to identify him through fingerprint matching.

Speaking through an interpreter in court, Jamaludin expressed remorse for his actions and pleaded for a lighter sentence, citing his family's financial hardship as his motivation. The court acknowledged his circumstances but upheld the mandatory penalties for violating immigration laws. The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority reiterated its firm stance against illegal entry, emphasizing that such actions undermine Singapore's border security.

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Location: Singapore

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