S'porean man, 62, allegedly harboured Filipino woman in Bedok house for 22 years after visit pass expired

Two Singaporean men were charged by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on Jun. 25, 2026, for harbouring and employing immigration offenders.

According to a Jun. 25 ICA media release, the men charged are 62-year-old Kamarulzaman Bin Yahaya and 27-year-old Mohamad Elfie Hakim Bin Lokman.

62-year-old

Kamarulzaman was charged for harbouring a 54-year-old Filipina, Leonardo Federigan Leonora, who remained unlawfully in Singapore after her visit pass expired on Apr. 28, 2003.

Investigations by ICA found that despite knowing Leonora had overstayed in Singapore, Kamarulzaman allowed her to stay in his Bedok unit from March 2004 to March 2026.

She was subsequently convicted and sentenced to six months' jail and fined S$2,000, the release noted, adding that she was deported after completing her sentence and is barred from re-entering Singapore.

27-year-old

The release added that Elfie was charged for employing a 26-year-old Indian man, Kakadiya Avanit Rajubhai, who remained unlawfully in Singapore after his visit pass expired on Jun. 17, 2025.

ICA investigations found that Elfie had employed Kakadiya as a parcel delivery worker without conducting due diligence checks ensuring that he had a valid pass to remain in Singapore.

Kakadiya, who was later fined S$4,000, has since been deported and is barred from re-entering Singapore.

Penalties

ICA takes a firm stance against any person harbouring immigration offenders, it said in its release.

It added that those who wish to rent out their premises must exercise due diligence in checking the immigration status of their prospective foreign tenants to ensure that their stay in Singapore is legal.

They are required to:

(a) Check the tenant's original immigration/work pass;

(b) Cross check the particulars on their pass against the particulars on their original passport; and

(c) Verify the validity of their pass by checking with the issuing authority (i.e. the Ministry of Manpower for work passes and ICA for immigration passes – Student's Pass and Long-Term Visit Pass).

The release noted that a person found guilty of recklessly or knowingly harbouring overstayers and/or illegal immigrants may be sentenced to jail for a term of not less than six months and up to two years and a fine of up to S$6,000.

A person found guilty of negligently harbouring overstayers and/or illegal immigrants may be sentenced to a fine of up to S$6,000 or to jail for a term of up to 12 months, or to both.

Any person found guilty of employing overstayers and/or illegal immigrants may be sentenced to jail for a term of not less than six months and up to two years and a fine of up to S$6,000.