By Khushwant Singh
AN INDONESIAN boatman who ferried three Chinese nationals into
Singapore illegally on the instructions of a Malaysian was jailed
two years and ordered to be caned six times on Thursday.
A district court heard that Zamri Muhammad Ali, 34, was
approached by a man by the name of Gemuk while in Johor in late
September this year.
The Malaysian offered the boatman RM1,000 (S$416) for each
successful trip to smuggle illegal immigrants from Johor into
Singapore.
On Sept 30, Gemuk told him to sneak in three female Chinese
nationals, aged 32, 40 and 41, and was supplied with a 6m-long
fibreglass speedboat.
Close to the shore at Senoko, the women leapt and the boatman
tried to flee back to Malaysian waters but was intercepted by PCG
boats and arrested.
The court heard that the three Chinese nationals had been dealt
with for entering Singapore illegally.