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Jul 8, 2010
M'sian mum-to-be arrested
<!-- by line --> By Carmen Woo
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A HEAVILY pregnant woman was arrested for trying to smuggle an immigration offender out of Singapore in her car. When the Malaysia-registered saloon car pulled into the Woodlands Checkpoint for departure clearance on Monday, officers' suspicion was aroused by the lone woman driver's edginess and apprehension.
The officers did not think that the visible discomfort was due to her pregnancy and directed her car to the inspection area for checks.
Nothing was found inside the car. But when she was asked to open the car boot, the ICA officers found an 'unannounced' passenger. Both the driver and her 'passenger' were arrested.
Chia Kiu Lim, 29, a Malaysian, later admitted to abetting the illegal departure of 43-year-old Wei Cai Hong from China. Chia claimed that she was approached by a Malaysian man whom she knew only as 'uncle' to help sneak immigration offenders out of Singapore illegally, and that she had separated from her husband and was in financial difficulties.
She met the man at the Kranji MRT where he handed over Wei and $700 to her. Chia then drove to Woodlands Town Centre with Wei and asked the latter to hide inside the car boot before they headed for the Woodlands Checkpoint.
Wei further claimed that she had sought help from her Chinese friend to depart Singapore illegally through a Malaysian middleman for $2,000. Wei was charged on Wednesday and jailed 12 weeks and fined $2,500. Chia's case will come up next week.
