On 14 September 2023, a 48-year-old Singaporean man, Mohamad Norrahhi Bin Noman (“Norrahhi”), was sentenced to five months’ imprisonment for abetting Onky Febrian (“Onky”), a 28-year-old male Indonesian, to be in possession of a forged Singapore Identity Card (IC). Norrahhi was arrested by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers at his place of residence at Boon Lay Drive on 31 January 2023.

2.         His other charges which were taken into consideration during sentencing also include: (i) his possession of a forged Singapore IC at his place of residence; and (ii) abetting Asrul Muzahar (“Asrul”), a 23-year-old Indonesian male, to be in possession of a forged Singapore IC. Onky and Asrul were earlier convicted and sentenced on 20 January 2023 to two months’ imprisonment each for possession of a forged Singapore IC under the National Registration Act.

3.          Investigations revealed that Onky arrived in Singapore on 31 October 2022 and stayed at Norrahhi’s place of residence. Norrahhi collected $550 from him as a fee for job offers and handed him a false Singapore IC, bearing a different identity. This false IC was a laminated card which purports to be an identity card and was intended to be used for identification purposes when requested by his employer. Under Norrahhi’s instructions, Onky returned to Indonesia on 15 November 2022 after working for 14 days in Singapore. In November 2022, he got acquainted with Asrul who was also interested to seek employment in Singapore.

4.          On 8 January 2023, Onky and Asrul arrived in Singapore and proceeded to Norrahhi’s place of residence. Both paid a fee of $200 each for the false Singapore ICs bearing different identities. Norrahhi reminded them to memorise the details listed on these identity documents and not to reveal to anyone that they are Indonesians. Both Onky and Asrul also started to work as cleaners at a mall the following day.  

5.          On 12 January 2023, the Singapore Police Force officers conducted a routine check on Onky and Asrul and noticed that the details (e.g. photographs) on the identification documents did not match their actual identities. They were subsequently arrested for possession of forged Singapore ICs and were referred to ICA. Further investigations by ICA revealed Norrahhi’s identity which led to his arrest.

6.         ICA takes a serious view of persons possessing forged ICs and/or abetting others to be in possession of these forged ICs. Under Section 16(2)(b) of the National Registration Act, a person who knowingly has possession of a forged identity card shall be guilty of an offence. If convicted, he or she may be sentenced to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years or to both. For abetting an offence, a person may be sentenced with the same punishment.

IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
14 SEPTEMBER 2023