S'pore sets special court

S'pore sets special court

SINGAPORE (AP): In an effort to bring illegal immigrants more quickly to trial, Singapore has created a special court inside the prison where they are held, a newspaper reported yesterday.

"It will facilitate the timely and secure production before a district judge or magistrate, within 48 hours, of illegal immigrants or overstayers who have been arrested," a court spokesman told The Straits Times.

As an economic slowdown continues to plague many of Singapore's Southeast Asian neighbors, an influx of illegal immigrants to this small but prosperous island republic has swamped the courts.

In Singapore, convicted illegal immigrants are jailed and caned before they are deported.