Immigration officers blamed for Singapore border security breach
- 9 years ago
Originally published on February 17, 2014
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Singapore Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister Teo Chee Hean said on Monday that immigration officers were largely responsible for the security breach at the Woodlands Checkpoint in January.
A Malaysian woman was driving to Singapore on Johor Causeway at around 1 p.m. on January 17. She tailgated the vehicle in front of her and passed the immigration counter without clearance. Officers at the counter did not notice the breach and failed to raise alarm. According to the New Straits Times, the driver managed to enter Singapore after slipping past another drop arm barrier and the attending auxiliary police officer.
Officers finally sounded the alarm two and a half minutes after the woman had passed through the first control. The woman was nowhere to be found even though the arrival area was locked down.
The woman was only arrested three days later when she tailgated another vehicle and crashed security barriers in an attempt to enter the Ministry of Foreign Affairs compound. Before the intrusion, the driver passed through the Police Cantonment Complex but was not stopped.
The woman, identified as 27-year-old teacher Nurul Ruhana, was described as suffering from mental illness and did not appear to have criminal intent.
Describing the errors made by immigration officers as "unacceptable'' and "a serious error of judgement'', Teo said officers had downplayed the significance of the incident and should have classified the case as "a breach of border security" instead of "immigration offence".
Singaporean authorities aim to beef up border security by adding 10 more immigration counters to clear cars by 2016.
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Singapore Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister Teo Chee Hean said on Monday that immigration officers were largely responsible for the security breach at the Woodlands Checkpoint in January.
A Malaysian woman was driving to Singapore on Johor Causeway at around 1 p.m. on January 17. She tailgated the vehicle in front of her and passed the immigration counter without clearance. Officers at the counter did not notice the breach and failed to raise alarm. According to the New Straits Times, the driver managed to enter Singapore after slipping past another drop arm barrier and the attending auxiliary police officer.
Officers finally sounded the alarm two and a half minutes after the woman had passed through the first control. The woman was nowhere to be found even though the arrival area was locked down.
The woman was only arrested three days later when she tailgated another vehicle and crashed security barriers in an attempt to enter the Ministry of Foreign Affairs compound. Before the intrusion, the driver passed through the Police Cantonment Complex but was not stopped.
The woman, identified as 27-year-old teacher Nurul Ruhana, was described as suffering from mental illness and did not appear to have criminal intent.
Describing the errors made by immigration officers as "unacceptable'' and "a serious error of judgement'', Teo said officers had downplayed the significance of the incident and should have classified the case as "a breach of border security" instead of "immigration offence".
Singaporean authorities aim to beef up border security by adding 10 more immigration counters to clear cars by 2016.
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