SINGAPORE – A convicted immigrant who was prohibited from entering Singapore more than two decades ago decided to assume a new identity to return to the Republic.
The man later married and started a family in Singapore, after which he decided to apply for permanent residency and then citizenship.
On Sept 17, Muhammad Salman, 45, pleaded guilty to re-entering Singapore despite being banned, not possessing a valid pass to enter, making false statements to obtain an entry permit and providing false statements to obtain citizenship.
The Pakistani national, who has remained in remand since Feb 18, appeared in court through video link.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Zhou Yihong said Salman had been convicted of cheating and providing false information to a public servant in 1998.
Salman, who was then known as Malik Irfan Arshad, served more than two months in jail and was barred from re-entering Singapore upon his conviction.
DPP Zhou said that on Nov 19, 1999, Salman decided to return to Singapore under a new identity despite knowing he had been permanently banned from coming into the country.
Charge sheets show that Salman had also made false declarations and statements on Dec 30, 2002, and Aug 10, 2007, when he applied for permanent residency and Singapore citizenship.
The court heard that his false representations enabled him to successfully get both applications approved.
In mitigation, Salman’s lawyer, Mr Teo Choo Kee, said his client was remorseful over a rash decision he had made a long time ago.
“What he had done was something that took place more than 20 years ago, when he was still a young man and he wanted to seek a better future in Singapore. But unfortunately, he employed the wrong method, using a false identity,” said Mr Teo.
He added that Salman felt he had to continue with the lie because of his family.
“Having come to Singapore under false identity, he started working and got married. It was in these circumstances that he felt he had little choice but to continue this facade, especially after starting a family. One thing led to another, and he went on to apply for permanent residency and citizenship,” said Mr Teo.
He said Salman’s most recent offence was in 2007 when he applied for citizenship, and he had not committed any other offences during his time in Singapore.
But the prosecution argued that Salman had simply and clearly been emboldened by his past behaviour of misrepresentation to the authorities.
“His conduct is blatant. He has no qualms about lying to the authorities repeatedly,” said DPP Zhou, noting that his prior convictions in 1998 had also included making false representations to public servants.
She argued there should not be any mitigating factors that Salman’s offences had taken place more than two decades ago, given the nature of his offences.
“His offences are continuing in the sense that the benefits were maintained and continually enjoyed by him. That’s a period of almost 20 years since he has enjoyed the benefits of citizenship,” said DPP Zhou.
Salman will return to court to be sentenced on Oct 2.
He can be jailed for up to two years, fined up to $1,000 or both for making false representations to induce the minister to grant him citizenship.
Salman can also be jailed for up to 12 months, fined up to $4,000 or both for making false representations to obtain an entry or a re-entry permit into Singapore.
For entering Singapore despite being barred, he can be jailed for between two and four years, and fined up to $6,000.
For entering Singapore without a lawfully issued valid pass, he can be jailed for up to six months, and given at least three strokes of the cane.
Immigration lawsIllegal immigrationSingapore
