Man kept his Singapore passport despite getting Australian citizenship, used Aussie passport to enter Singapore
A 69-year-old Singapore-born man who later became an Australian citizen has been fined S$2,400 for repeatedly entering Singapore without presenting his Singapore passport, even though he had never renounced his citizenship.
He was arrested on 17 Oct by Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers, reported The Straits Times (ST).
Source: HTX
Left for Australia in 2000, became a citizen in 2003
Court documents state that Teo Teck Yong Jerome Leonard left Singapore in 2000 to seek work in Australia.
He became an Australian citizen in 2003, and was issued an Australian passport on 11 Nov 2005.
He later used this Australian passport to clear immigration at Changi Airport twice — on 6 Aug 2008 and 9 May 2009 — and once at the Singapore Cruise Centre on 4 Sept 2008.
Despite holding Australian citizenship, Teo never renounced his Singapore citizenship, meaning he remained legally required to use his Singapore passport to enter and exit Singapore.
Asked court for leniency due to medical issues
Unrepresented in court, Teo pleaded for leniency. He cited medical issues that require him to visit an optometrist every two months.
However, the ICA prosecutor argued that Teo had deliberately chosen convenience over compliance, saying he had “exploited his access to both countries”.
Teo was eventually convicted on three charges of failing to present his Singapore passport upon arrival at a Singapore immigration checkpoint.
Source: dinopix on Canva, for illustrative purposes only
ICA states that Singaporean adults are not allowed dual citizenship
ICA reminded the public that Singapore does not permit dual citizenship for adults.
Teo has since paid the fine in full, reported ST.
Under the law, anyone who fails to present a valid passport when entering or leaving Singapore may face a fine of up to S$1,000, up to six months’ jail, or both.
Also read: Man uses fake identity to re-enter S’pore despite ban, starts family & becomes a citizen
Man uses fake identity to re-enter S’pore despite ban, starts family & becomes a citizen
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