6 Indonesian men face jail, caning for illegal entry into Singapore

They are expected to be charged in court and, if convicted, could each face up to six months' jail and a minimum of three strokes of the cane, The Straits Times reported.

The Police Coast Guard detected a wooden craft carrying the six men at about 12:35 a.m. on Sunday in waters off Tanah Merah, within Singapore’s territorial waters.

Officers intercepted the vessel and arrested the men for unlawful entry into Singapore.

Preliminary investigations found that the men had intended to enter the country illegally by boat to seek employment, Channel News Asia reported.

Under Singapore law, illegal entry or overstaying carries severe penalties, including imprisonment of up to six months and mandatory caning of at least three strokes, as enforced by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA).