A MAN was jailed for six months on Wednesday for harbouring his Filipino girlfriend who had overstayed.

Samuel Wong Khan Meng, 35, admitted to harbouring Genevieve Villacora Tanghal, 25, whom he knew had remained in Singapore unlawfully at a flat in McNair Road from May 2004 to last October.

The court heard that he fetched his girlfriend from Johor Baru and entered Singapore via Woodlands checkpoint on May 18, 2O04.

She was given a two-day visit pass.

Their relationship developed and he decided to cohabit with her. He allowed her to live at the flat even after her visit pass had expired.

On Nov 4 last year, she surrendered herself to the authorities for overstaying for four years, five months and 16 days. She was jailed for three months and fined $2,000 in March.

In court, he described the Filipina as his wife, with whom he has a four-year-old daughter.

He could have been jailed for up to two years and fined up to $6,000.