Some individuals will go above and beyond to gain entrance to Singapore; so much so that they are willing to offer a bribe. However, one Chinese tourist’s attempted approach did not yield the expected results.
Attempting to Bribe Immigration Goes Wrong:
Wei Shishan, a 42-year-old Chinese national, got himself into serious trouble with the law after attempting to bribe a border security officer at Changi Airport. According to reports from The Straits Times, he accepted a plea deal for corruption charges on March 27th.
It all began after Wei flew into Singapore back in August of last year. Upon landing, he encountered issues with the facial recognition check which led to him being pulled aside for additional security questions.
The Patterns that Made Case Officers Bereave:
When questioned by immigration, Wei stated that he was there to enjoy a vacation for 10-days. However, an examination of his arrival card revealed that not only was he planning to stay for 29 days, but he also planned on overstaying his visit.
As the name suggests, an arrival card is an official form that all visitors to Singapore must fill upon their arrival. The card highlights key components like reasoning for the visit, how long they plan on staying, and lodging details. Any inconsistencies regarding these statements and what an immigration officer is told can pose great suspicion.
Offering the immigration officer a “little incentive” like SGD 30 for turning the other way brought about panic in Wei. Noticing the inconsistency, the immigration officers brought him to a waiting area for processing.
A Bad Move…Quick Arrest
Needless to say, the officer did not accept Wei’s offer. Instead, they reported him. So, then Wei was arrested.
Singapore weiht’s some of the most stringent anti-corruption laws in the world. By bribing a public official, one stands to spend close to five years in prison, a fine of SGD 100,000, or both.
We regret to inform you, there’s Still Some Learning Left
The no-nonsense approach to law enforcement makes Changi Airport one of the most secure and efficient airports in the world. It had been ranked as one of the best, time and time again.
Pushing an unwanted bribe is hands down, the worst way to deal with what may seem like a bad immigration situation. Best to improvise a little instead to get out unscathed as I am sure the results will not be desirable.
