bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Six men who had been sent back to Indonesia after immigration breaches tried to re-enter Singapore illegally on a sampan, but were caught when it sank.
On Monday, they were sentenced to jail terms of one year to one year and nine months, and between four and 10 strokes of the cane.
The group was led by 23-year-old Asrarudin, who steered the boat despite having no experience.
He was joined by 28-year-old Brick, a repeat offender who received the heaviest sentence of nearly two years.
Four other men, aged 24 to 29, were also sentenced to jail and caning.
Their plan started in November 2025, when Asrarudin went to Batam. He met an acquaintance there and expressed his intention to enter Singapore illegally to look for work.
The acquaintance offered to find others with similar plans, eventually putting Asrarudin in touch with four of his co-accused.
Asrarudin also approached his friend Brick, whom he knew wanted to go to Singapore illegally as well.
The group agreed to buy a sampan from a Facebook seller for 15 million rupiah (US$900) and split the cost among themselves.
On December 20, 2025, they met at a beach in Sekupang on Batam, where the sampan was delivered at about 6pm.
They boarded the vessel and left for Singapore, with Asrarudin steering.
The journey took several hours as this was the first time Asrarudin had operated a vessel, and the sea conditions were harsh.
After midnight on December 21, 2025, Singapore’s Police Coast Guard was instructed to scan the waters off Tanah Merah as a suspicious vessel had been seen in the area.
At about 12.40am, officers saw the wooden sampan, which was about 10 metres (32.8 feet) long. They pursued it with their patrol boat’s blinkers and siren activated.

Asrarudin tried to evade the police by manoeuvring the motorised sampan between anchored vessels in the area.
But water started to enter the sampan, causing it to sink. The officers eventually rescued the men while the sampan sank completely.
The six men were arrested and found to have been previously repatriated from Singapore to Indonesia between 2022 and 2025.
They had been told that they needed to get permission from the Controller of Immigration if they wanted to return to Singapore, and had accepted and acknowledged their ban notices.
The prosecutor called for heavier sentences for the men with prior convictions, arguing that their previous punishments did not deter them from reoffending.
Brick, who got the heaviest sentence of one year and nine months’ jail and 10 strokes of the cane, has five previous convictions for immigration offences – the highest among the men.
The punishment for entering Singapore illegally is up to six months in jail with at least three strokes of the cane or a fine of up to S$6,000 (US$4,700).
The punishment for unlawfully entering Singapore after removal is one to three years in jail and a fine of up to S$6,000.
This story was first published by CNA


Viral assault video in Singapore prompts Philippines to weigh legal action

Singaporean man gets 11 years’ jail for posing as teen online and raping girl

Chinese healthcare firms expand overseas to support growing expat community

6-year-old Indonesian girl killed in Singapore accident laid to rest in Jakarta hometown

Singapore

Singapore jails, canes 6 Indonesians after illegal re-entry on sinking boat

Singapore national flags flutter over a view of the city skyline in August 2022. Photo: EPA-EFE

Illegal entry into Singapore is punishable by up to six months’ jail, caning, or a fine up to US$4,700. Re-entering after removal carries one to three years’ jail and the same fine. Photo: AFP

Malaysian gets 12 years’ jail in Singapore for Caucasian ‘sugar daddy’ sextortion scam

People take pictures next to the Merlion statue at the Marina Bay waterfront in Singapore. Photo: AFP

The so-called sugar dating trend, in which typically younger partners are offered money, gifts or lifestyle support by older or wealthier people in return for companionship that may or may not include sex. Photo: Shutterstock

Indonesia police arrest 9 in Medan baby trafficking case linked to social media

A newborn baby lies in a hospital bassinet. Photo: Shutterstock

Twelve suspects detained by Indonesian authorities after they uncovered an alleged baby trafficking ring in July. Photo: Handout

How Johor-Singapore SEZ is delivering for businesses a year on

Singaporean urban farming company Archisen is expanding its operations in the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone. Photo: Archisen

Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong (left) and his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim agreed to develop 11 focus industries in the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone. Photo: Reuters

Baby ice plants are grown in FarmByte Archisen Farm in the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone. Photo: Archisen

A map of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone’s nine strategic flagship zones, each tailored to specific industries and investment opportunities. Photo: United Overseas Bank/Handout

Vehicles travel across the causeway link from Malaysia’s southern state of Johor to Woodlands immigration checkpoint in Singapore last year. Photo: AFP

Singapore PM accepts Workers’ Party’s rejection of Leader of the Opposition role

Singapore’s opposition Workers’ Party Secretary General Pritam Singh (centre) with his party’s members at Serangoon Stadium as they wait for the results of the 2025 general election. Photo: AFP

Pritam Singh, secretary general of the Workers’ Party, leaves the Supreme Court during an appeals hearing in Singapore last November. Photo: AFP

Singapore’s parliament building in the Civic District. The Workers’ Party has 10 MPs in the current parliament. Photo: Shutterstock

News

Asia

Southeast Asia

The group was rescued by police when their vessel capsized during a chase. One man was sentenced to 21 months for his sixth illegal entry


The group was rescued by police when their vessel capsized during a chase. One man was sentenced to 21 months for his sixth illegal entry.


Singapore jails, canes 6 Indonesians after illegal re-entry on sinking boat

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The group was rescued by police when their vessel capsized during a chase. One man was sentenced to 21 months for his sixth illegal entry

The group was rescued by police when their vessel capsized during a chase. One man was sentenced to 21 months for his sixth illegal entry