SINGAPORE: A Pakistani man who was permanently barred from Singapore in 1998 has pleaded guilty to multiple immigration offences after re-entering the country a year later under a false identity.
The man, Muhammad Salman, 45, managed to build a life in Singapore, including marriage, family, permanent residency, and eventually citizenship.
His deception came to light years later, leading to criminal charges, according to state media The Straits Times.
On 17 September, Salman admitted in court to re-entering Singapore while banned, entering without a valid pass, and making false statements to secure both permanent residency and citizenship.
He appeared in court via video link, having been in remand since 18 February.
Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Zhou Yihong told the court that Salman, then known as Malik Irfan Arshad, was convicted in 1998 of cheating and providing false information to a public servant.
He served more than two months in jail before being permanently prohibited from entering Singapore.
Deception in residency and naturalisation applications
Despite the ban, Salman returned on 19 November 1999 using a new identity.
He went on to make false declarations when applying for permanent residency in December 2002 and for citizenship in August 2007. Both applications were approved.
DPP Zhou argued that Salman’s repeated misrepresentations demonstrated a pattern of deceit, stressing that his offences were not historical but “continuing”, as he had benefitted from citizenship rights for nearly 20 years.
His lawyer, Teo Choo Kee, argued in mitigation that Salman was remorseful and had acted out of desperation in his youth.
“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,” he said.
Teo added that Salman had married and started a family after re-entering, which left him feeling compelled to continue his deception.
He emphasised that his client’s last offence was in 2007 and that he had not re-offended since then.
The prosecution rejected these arguments, saying Salman had shown no hesitation in lying to the authorities on multiple occasions.
DPP Zhou stated, “His conduct is blatant. He has no qualms about lying to the authorities repeatedly.”
Salman is scheduled to return to court for sentencing on 2 October.
Under Singapore law, making false statements to obtain citizenship can result in imprisonment of up to two years, a fine of up to S$1,000, or both.
False statements to obtain an entry or re-entry permit can lead to a jail term of up to 12 months, a fine of up to S$4,000, or both.
Entering Singapore despite a ban carries a sentence of between two and four years’ imprisonment, with fines of up to S$6,000.
Entering without a valid pass may also lead to imprisonment of up to six months and at least three strokes of the cane.
On 1 Sept, a Chinese national sentenced to six months’ jail for 28-year overstay in Singapore
In a separate case, a 60-year-old Chinese national, Yu Zefang, was sentenced on 1 September to six months’ jail and fined S$2,000 after overstaying in Singapore for over 28 years.
She had originally arrived in 1995 on a student’s pass. Following a 1996 drug arrest, her passport was confiscated, and she was issued a special pass, which she later violated by disappearing.
Yu chose to remain illegally to care for her daughter, who eventually became a Singapore permanent resident in 2008.
In December 2024, Yu surrendered to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, seeking to return to China.
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