Chinese national, 29, helps hometown friend enter S’pore illegally in lorry, gets jail & caning

A 29-year-old Chinese national was sentenced to 12 months’ jail, three strokes of the cane, and a fine of S$322,000 for helping his fellow countryman enter Singapore illegally.

The accused, Tong Bao Bao (transliterated), used a lorry to carry out the offence, Shin Min Daily News reported.

Wanted him

Tong was the general manager of beverage wholesaler Wan Changye International.

He wanted his fellow countryman, identified as 37-year-old Nie Bao Chao (transliterated), to join the company.

Both were friends who came from the same hometown.

However, Nie was denied entry into Singapore at Woodlands Checkpoint on Sep. 28, 2025.

He failed to meet the entry requirements.

Nie later requested Tong’s help to enter the country illegally.

Illegal entry

On Nov. 9, 2025, Tong drove the company’s lorry to Malaysia to meet Nie.

Tong then instructed Nie to lie behind the driver’s seat and proceeded to conceal him with wooden boards and boxes.

Tong arrived at Woodlands Checkpoint at about 11:40 pm on the same day.

He presented only his own passport.

Nie remained hidden.

After clearing immigration, Tong drove to a residential unit along Yishun Street 20 that the company had rented for employees.

Without company approval, Tong allowed Nie to stay at the unit.

Arrest

On Nov. 19, 2025, Tong was arrested by Singapore Customs officers at a warehouse near Tagore Lane in Upper Thomson.

He was suspected of storing duty-unpaid alcohol.

Nie was also arrested.

Investigations revealed that Tong had stored over 1,000 bottles of duty-unpaid beer at warehouses in Tagore Lane and Woodlands Industrial Park.

He evaded about S$50,000 in duties and taxes.

Tong also kept nearly 1,000 bottles of duty-unpaid beer at the Yishun unit, evading about S$2,700 in duties and taxes.

Charges

Tong faced three charges under the Immigration Act and 10 charges under the Customs Act.

On May 4, he pleaded guilty to five of the charges and was sentenced to 12 months’ jail, three strokes of the cane, and a fine of S$322,000.

As he did not pay the fine, he will serve an additional 80 days in jail in default.