2 men, 39 & 35, caught trying to swim into S'pore illegally from JB, get jail

In a bid to find jobs in Singapore, two Bangladeshi men who were previously deported tried to re-enter Singapore by swimming over illegally from Johor Bahru (JB).

However, Mamun, 39, and Alam, 35, were spotted at sea, and subsequently arrested by police coast guard officers in Singapore waters.

Both banned from entering Singapore without written permission

Court documents stated that in 2018, Mamun had been convicted in Singapore for drug-related offences, while Alam was convicted in July 2023 for unlawful entry into Singapore.

Both men received jail terms and were deported to Bangladesh.

They were also banned from re-entering Singapore without prior written permission from the Controller of Immigration.

Sometime in August 2024, both men got to know each other through a mutual friend in Bangladesh.

Alam wanted to visit his nephew in Malaysia while Mamun was looking for better job opportunities.

So on Oct. 5, they both boarded a flight to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and were granted a one-month visit pass.

A week later, they boarded a bus to Batu Pahat in Johor Bahru, but Mamun still found himself unable to secure a job.

Planned to swim into Singapore to find jobs

Around Oct. 18, Mamun saw the track construction for the Rapid Transit System (RTS), an up-and-coming rail shuttle link between Singapore and Malaysia.

This gave him the idea to enter Singapore illegally by swimming alongside the track's support pillars.

After finding out about Mamum's plan, Alam decided to join him, as he also wanted to find employment in Singapore.

On Oct. 20 at around 10pm, both left their hotel near City Square in Johor Bahru and met at a shoreline where they could see the RTS support pillars.

Mamun brought along a nine-litre plastic bottle to use as an improvised floating device, while Alam had bought cigarettes, a can of Red Bull, and drinking water for the swim.

They wrapped their belongings in plastic bags to waterproof them and shared the Red Bull.

Then, they jumped into the sea and swam in the direction of Singapore, resting at the scaffolding of the support pillars when they got tired.

Caught by police coast guard

In the wee hours of the morning on Oct. 21, both were spotted swimming towards Singapore shores.

At 5:01am, police coast guard officers despatched to the area found Mamun at sea, 0.1 nautical miles inside Singapore territorial waters.

Eight minutes later, officers found Alam at the base of an RTS pillar, also 0.1 nautical miles inside Singapore territorial waters.

Both were found with their Bangladesh passports and arrested for illegal entry into Singapore.

They have been in remand since.

Sentenced to jail, caning for immigration offence

Mamun and Alam were charged with offences under the Immigration Act.

They pleaded guilty to one charge each on Oct. 29, Lianhe Zaobao reported.

The judge sentenced Mamun to six weeks' jail and three strokes of the cane, and Alam to eight weeks' jail and four strokes of the cane.

In response to Mothership's enquiries, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said that it takes a firm stance against individuals attempting to enter or leave Singapore illegally, as well as for those who abet such actions.

ICA also said it is an offence under the Immigration Act for any person to enter or leave Singapore through an unauthorised point.

Top image from ICA / Canva