2 men jailed for trying to help Malaysian e-cigarette smuggler flee Singapore
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The foreign national, who had his passport seized, tried to return to Malaysia by hiding in the cargo compartment of a lorry on July 19.
PHOTOS: ICA
SINGAPORE – Two Malaysian nationals attempted to help a fellow countryman escape Singapore’s borders illegally through Tuas Checkpoint by hiding him in the cargo compartment of a lorry.
This was after the man had his passport seized after he was caught transporting e-cigarette devices and related products into Singapore.
On Sept 6, Sharan Raj Loganathan, 26, and Ramesh Munusamy, 44, pleaded guilty to their attempts to help Mohamad Izuwan Che Mohd Abd Khoha exit Tuas Checkpoint illegally on July 19.
Both Sharan and Ramesh were sentenced to 10 months’ jail.
Court documents show that Izuwan, 32, had been caught for transporting more than 11,900 e-cigarette pods and 8,657 e-cigarette devices into Singapore on July 17.
He then tried to return to Malaysia by hiding in the cargo compartment of Ramesh’s lorry two days later, on July 19.
On Aug 28, Izuwan was sentenced to seven months’ jail for his offences.
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said Sharan and Ramesh had known each other since 2022 as they had worked as lorry drivers at N. A. Raku Transport Agency.
Some time in May, Sharan learnt that Ramesh needed money as the latter had asked him for delivery jobs to earn extra income.
On July 18, an acquaintance, referred to as Boy Anne, contacted Sharan while he was in Malaysia, asking if Sharan knew anyone willing to sneak Izuwan out of Singapore illegally for RM2,300 (S$690).
Sharan then asked Ramesh if he was keen to take up the job. ICA said both men knew Izuwan was not allowed to leave Singapore as he was under investigation for importing e-cigarettes into the Republic. Izuwan’s passport had also been seized by the Health Sciences Authority.
Ramesh agreed to the job and also agreed to pay Sharan RM300 for the referral. Sharan was also given a commission fee by Boy Anne for coordinating the plan.
On July 19, Ramesh picked up Izuwan from a bus stop in Tuas around 9am. He returned to Tuas Checkpoint around noon with Izuwan hidden in the cargo compartment.
Both Ramesh and Izuwan were arrested when ICA officers inspected the lorry.
Sharan was arrested on July 30, after the authorities established his role in the plan.
Those found guilty of helping others to leave Singapore’s borders illegally can be jailed for at least six months and fined up to $6,000.
