Woman, 57, a Chinese national, overstayed in S’pore for more than 22 years, given 6 months’ jail & S$2,500 fine

A 57-year-old woman, a Chinese national, was sentenced to six months’ jail and a S$2,500 fine for illegally overstaying in Singapore for 8,081 days, equivalent to more than 22 years.

Wang Youying pleaded guilty to one charge under the Immigration Act and was sentenced on Aug. 21.

Surrendered

On Aug. 4, Wang reportedly went to Bukit Merah East Neighbourhood Police Centre and surrendered to the police, Shin Min Daily News reported.

She could not produce any documentation proving her legal stay in Singapore.

Wang was subsequently arrested and handed over to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) for investigations.

Prior conviction

Investigations revealed that Wang had a prior conviction on Oct. 30, 2002, for overstaying in Singapore for more than 90 days.

She was sentenced to one month’s jail and fined S$2,000.

Wang was eventually released on Dec. 31 and was repatriated to China a few days later.

Re-entered

Wang re-entered Singapore on a flight on Jun. 5, 2004.

In charge sheets seen by Mothership, she was issued a 14-day visit pass the same day.

The pass permitted Wang to remain in Singapore until Jun. 19, 2004.

After the pass expired, she did not leave and failed to apply for an extension of stay.

Wang illegally overstayed for 8,081 days, which is a period of 22 years, one month and 16 days, since the pass expired.

It was not disclosed how she managed to support herself during her overstay or where she resided.

Illness

The prosecution sought six months’ jail and a S$2,500 fine for Wang.

They argued that this was Wang’s second offence of the same nature.

In mitigation, Wang reportedly said she suffered from a serious illness and hoped to return to China as soon as possible.

She pleaded for leniency.

As Wang was unable to pay the fine, she will serve an additional five days in jail in lieu of the fine.