S'pore nabs two Myanmar illegals

S'pore nabs two Myanmar illegals

SINGAPORE: Singapore police arrested on Monday two 29-year-old men from Myanmar who were trying to swim into the island's territory illegally.

Night vision devices helped Police Coast Guard authorities spot the two men swimming toward Singapore's north shore at about 2:50 a.m. (1:50 a.m in Jakarta), a statement from police said.

Both men carried a plastic bag containing their personal belongings, it said.

The arrests bring the total number of illegal immigrants caught trying to enter Singapore by sea so far this year to 52, it added.

The two men, whose names were not released, will be charged in court on Tuesday and face up to six months in prison and three strokes of a rattan cane, or a fine of up to S$6,000 (US$3,530), the statement said.

The tiny city-state maintains strict controls on newcomers, and authorities have built barriers along its northern coast and increased patrols to crack down on illegal migrants.

Last year, authorities arrested 11,850 people for attempting to enter the country illegally. -- AP