6 Indonesian men get up to 21 months' jail & caning after trying to enter S'pore by sampan

Six Indonesian men, aged between 23 and 29, were sentenced to a maximum of 21 months' jail on Jan. 26 after attempting to illegally re-enter Singapore despite being repatriated.

According to CNA, Asrarudin, Brick, Hardi, Ismaun, M Amrin and Muamar Imran were arrested in December 2025 when their boat sank after they were discovered by the Police Coast Guard (PCG).

They were also given four to 10 strokes of the cane after pleading guilty to two charges each.

Bought sampan from Facebook, departed from Batam

Asrarudin, who had travelled to Batam in November 2025, had told an acquaintance that he wanted to enter Singapore illegally for work.

He later became acquainted with Hardi, Ismaun, M Amrin and Muamar Iman, and also roped in his friend, Brick.

They subsequently bought a wooden sampan for 15 million rupiah (S$1,136) on Facebook, and gathered at around 6pm at a beach in the Sekupang district on Dec. 20, 2025.

Their journey was prolonged due to sea conditions, and because Asrarudin, who was in command, had no prior experience in operating a vessel.

Boat sank, rescued and arrested by Police Coast Guard

At around 12:40am on Dec. 21, the Police Coast Guard (PCG) officers spotted the boat in waters off Tanah Merah after they were alerted of its presence.

In an attempt to escape pursuit, Asrarudin steered the motorised sampan between anchored vessels.

The boat eventually sank after it got flooded.

Officers rescued everyone on board before the sampan went under completely.

Previously repatriated for immigration crimes

The men were later found to have been previously repatriated from Singapore between 2022 and 2025 for immigration offences.

In order to re-enter the country, they had to individually obtain approval from the Controller of Immigration, and had also acknowledged their ban notices.

All six men pleaded guilty to two charges each of illegally entering Singapore and unlawfully returning after removal.

They were sentenced to between one year and one year and nine months' jail, along with four to 10 strokes of the cane.

Brick, who had five prior immigration-related convictions, received the heaviest punishment of one year, nine months' jail and 10 strokes of the cane.

Top photo via Unsplash