Muhammad Izal rested briefly on Pulau Ubin before completing his swim to Changi Beach.
SINGAPORE: An Indonesian man, previously deported and banned from Singapore for immigration offences, has been jailed and caned after returning to the country illegally by swimming from Malaysia with a trash bag as a flotation device.
Muhammad Izal, 34, was sentenced on Nov 2 to 15 months in jail and seven strokes of the cane after pleading guilty to entering Singapore without a valid pass and defying his deportation ban.
Court documents revealed that Izal had a history of immigration offences in Singapore, with four prior charges. His most recent conviction in September 2021 led to a year-long jail term and six strokes of the cane. Upon release in April 2022, he was deported back to Indonesia with explicit instructions not to re-enter Singapore without prior written approval from immigration authorities.
Despite these warnings, Izal returned illegally less than a year later. After traveling from Batam, Indonesia, to Johor Bahru, Malaysia, he swam to Singapore’s Pulau Ubin using an inflated trash bag as a flotation aid. After a short rest on the island, he continued his swim to Changi Beach.
For 10 months, Izal remained undetected until Oct 23, when Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers stopped him at Woodlands Road. Unable to produce valid documentation, he was referred for investigation. His fingerprints confirmed his identity as a deported individual with a prior record.
In court, Izal expressed remorse and cited personal hardships, including his children and ill parents, as motivations for his actions.
Despite his apology, the court emphasized the gravity of his repeated offences, handing down a 15-month jail sentence and seven strokes of the cane to deter further violations.
