SINGAPORE – A 49-year-old Singaporean man and a 36-year-old Vietnamese woman have been sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for entering into a marriage of convenience. The middlemen who assisted their arrangement have also been jailed and fined.
The 49-year-old, Lee Poh Chiew, was introduced to 36-year-old Nguyen through a couple, 39-year-old Singaporean, Cheong Mun Siong and his Vietnamese wife, 31-year-old Tran Thi Cam Nhung.
In 2014, Nguyen had told her friend Tran that she would like to remain and work in Singapore.
To help prolong Nguyen’s stay here, Tran informed Nguyen that her husband Cheong had a friend who could enter into a marriage of convenience with her and sponsor her Visit Pass application. In return, Nguyen agreed to pay Cheong $8,000 in three cash instalments.
Cheong’s friend, Lee, was keen to make easy money and agreed to the arrangement.
On Nov 21, 2014, the “marriage” between Nguyen and Lee took place where Cheongwas one of the witnesses. Nguyen paid Lee $1,100 and a monthly sum of $400 after the “marriage”. In return, Lee acted as the local sponsor for her Visit Pass application.
Lee and Nguyen were arrested by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers on April 27, 2015. They were each sentenced to six months’ imprisonment on May 18, 2015 for entering into a marriage of convenience.
Cheong and Tran were arrested on Jan 6, 2016 and were convicted on April 17 this year for arranging the marriage for Lee and Nguyen. Cheong was sentenced to seven months’ imprisonment and fined $8,000 in default of four weeks’ imprisonment while Tran was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment.
In a statement on Monday (April 24), ICA says it takes a serious view of individuals who circumvent the system to obtain immigration facilities in Singapore.
The penalties for the offence are a fine not exceeding $10,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years, or both. ICA says will continue to take firm enforcement action against errant couples and middlemen.
candicec@sph.com.sg
