SINGAPORE – An Australian man who arrived in Singapore on Dec 14, 2024, was found to have several prohibited items in his baggage, including knuckle dusters and flick knives.
El Sayed Aladdin, 28, then turned verbally abusive and made derogatory insults against Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers at Changi Airport when they informed him that the matter would be referred to the police for further investigations.
The police impounded his passport to prevent him from leaving the country while investigations were ongoing.
However, Aladdin attempted to leave Singapore through Woodlands Checkpoint on Dec 28, using someone else’s passport. He was arrested by ICA officers and charged on Dec 30.
On Feb 21, Aladdin was sentenced to eight months and two weeks’ jail and fined $6,500, after he pleaded guilty to using an unauthorised passport – an offence that carries a jail term of up to 10 years, a fine of up to $10,000, or both – and to insulting or verbally abusing public servants, for which he could have been jailed for up to 12 months, fined up to $5,000, or both.
ICA said on Feb 21: “The authorities take a serious view of persons who obstruct public servants from carrying out their duties. We will also not tolerate any form of abusive behaviour towards our officers and will take stern action against the offenders.
“Our officers deployed at the checkpoints are carrying out their duties to safeguard Singapore’s borders. Travellers are reminded to cooperate and comply with their instructions.”
Join ST’s WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.