A foreign man, believed to have a fist-sized tumour on his chin, was arrested at Waterloo Street on 31 December after being spotted begging under the guise of selling tissues.
The man, who walked with the aid of crutches, collected over S$50 in just 10 minutes, prompting a concerned passer-by to report his actions to the police.
The incident was reported by 79-year-old Mr Deng, a regular visitor to the area, according to Shin Min Daily News.
While visiting the vicinity of Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple during the busy midday hours, Deng noticed the man sitting by the roadside, receiving donations from several passers-by. Many of the individuals appeared moved by his visible physical condition.
“I suspected he was a foreigner, so I called the police,” said Deng.
“If he was local and genuinely in need, I didn’t want to trouble him. But if he was a foreigner begging illegally, action should be taken to prevent such cases from affecting public order.”
Deng, who frequents the area, noted that he had often seen foreigners begging near the temple, particularly on days when large crowds gather to pray.
He voiced concerns over the impact of unauthorised tissue sellers, who disrupt the livelihoods of local vendors relying on tissue sales to make a living.
Man Collects Over S$50 in Just 10 Minutes
Upon arriving at the scene, reporters from Shin Min Daily News observed the man seated near the temple entrance, leaning against a lamppost with two crutches beside him.
He was holding several packets of tissues and persistently offering them to passers-by.
Many onlookers, moved by his visible tumour, estimated to be 7–8 cm in size, donated money without taking the tissues. Some gave $10 notes, while others contributed smaller amounts.
With 31 December marking the first day of the lunar month, the area was particularly crowded with devotees, and within just 10 minutes, the man had collected over S$50 in donations.
Police Arrive and Arrest the Man
The police responded after receiving the report. Officers escorted the man to a nearby alley for questioning, during which he produced a passport believed to be of Chinese origin.
Following an investigation that lasted around 30 minutes, the man was taken into custody and transported in a police car.
In response to media inquiries, the police confirmed the arrest of a 42-year-old man, who was classified as a “prohibited immigrant” under Singapore’s Immigration Act.
The man was detained under Section 8(3)(a) of the Immigration Act, and investigations into the case are ongoing.
The Immigration Act defines a “prohibited immigrant” as anyone falling under several categories, including habitual vagrants or beggars, individuals unable to support themselves, those carrying contagious diseases, and persons holding invalid or forged travel documents.
Recurring Issue of Foreign Beggars
This is not the first time foreign nationals have been arrested for begging under the guise of selling tissues in Singapore.
In September of the previous year, a one-armed man was caught selling tissues in Yishun public housing estates.
Similarly, in November two years ago, a disfigured foreign man was apprehended while selling tissues along Bugis Street.
In both cases, investigations revealed the individuals were foreign nationals, and they were arrested for illegal begging.
Local shopkeepers and residents around Waterloo Street have voiced ongoing concerns about the recurring presence of unauthorised beggars, many of whom target areas with high foot traffic, such as the vicinity of Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple.
Concerns Raised Over Visa-free Scheme’s Potential Abuse by Foreign Crime Syndicates
Critics have expressed concerns that foreign crime syndicates, including those involved in illegal begging and housebreaking, may exploit Singapore’s visa-free entry arrangements to commit crimes before fleeing the country.
The visa-free scheme, which allows Chinese passport holders to enter Singapore for up to 30 days, was introduced in February 2024 to facilitate travel for various groups.
However, during a parliamentary session in September 2024, Minister for Home Affairs and Law K Shanmugam declined to provide detailed information about criminal activities involving visa-free visitors, as requested by Workers’ Party MP Ms He Ting Ru.
She had sought statistics on arrests or criminal activities involving visa-free visitors from 2021 to June 2024, as well as the possibility of enhanced screening measures.
In his response, Mr Shanmugam noted that publishing such data would be impractical and could strain bilateral relations with countries on the visa-free list.
He also stated that Singapore’s Immigration & Checkpoints Authority employs a risk-based approach to border security, ensuring adequate measures are in place.
He further rejected the idea of an electronic travel authorisation system, citing potential inconvenience for visitors.
