By Linette Lin
THE Singapore Police Force - with the assistance of the Royal
Malaysian Police (RMP) - has taken into custody Zulkifly Muhammad,
a 38-year-old Malaysian man, for his suspected involvement in
leading a human smuggling syndicate.
He was arrested in Malaysia and brought back to Singapore on Jan
12 2011 for further investigations.
Zulkifly Muhammad is believed to be the leader of a syndicate
involved in smuggling illegal immigrants by sea into Singapore
through the northern Johor Straits.
Investigations revealed that he operated his illegal human
smuggling business from Sungei Pok near Kampung Ladang in western
Johor, by engaging a team of boatmen to ferry the illegal
immigrants to Singapore and a middleman to collect smuggling fees
from them. He is also believed to have provided shelter and food
for them while waiting for an opportunity to smuggle them into
Singapore.
Zulkifly Muhammad will be charged in court on Friday. The
offence is punishable by imprisonment of not less than two years
and not more than five years; as well as caning of not less than
three strokes.
