A Singaporean man and woman, a well as a Chinese woman, were charged on Mar. 26, 2026 with harbouring immigration offenders.
The three individuals were involved in two cases, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said in a news release.
In the first case, two Singaporeans allegedly harboured a Malaysian man.
The second case involved a Chinese woman, who was a work permit holder, allegedly harbouring a Chinese man.
All three individuals were charged for harbouring individuals with "reckless disregard" as to whether their stays in Singapore were valid.
Both men who stayed in Singapore unlawfully have been deported and barred from re-entering Singapore.
Case involving 2 Singaporeans
Singaporean man, Phang Kang Rui, 26, and Singaporean woman, Chia Kai Hui, 32, were both charged with harbouring a Malaysian man, Ho Aik Chuan, 33.
Ho's visit pass expired on Nov. 22, 2015, and he remained unlawfully in Singapore.
ICA's investigations revealed that Phang and Chia allegedly allowed Ho to stay at their unit at Bukit Batok West Avenue 8 from Oct. 1, 2024, until his arrest on Jun. 10, 2025.
According to the news release, Ho was convicted and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment and three strokes of the cane.
Case of Chinese woman
Xie Shenghua, 40, a Chinese woman, was charged with harbouring a Chinese man, Zhang Xiaoling, 42.
Zhang's special pass expired on Sep. 12, 2024, and unlawfully remained in Singapore.
Investigations by ICA found that Xie allegedly allowed Zhang to stay at a unit in 10 Prinsep Link from mid-March 2025 to Jan. 14, 2026.
The address corresponds to the location of Sunshine Plaza Residences.
According to the news release, Zhang was convicted and sentenced to 10 weeks' imprisonment and three strokes of the cane.
ICA's three mandatory checks for prospective foreign tenants
ICA said it takes a firm stance against any person who harbours immigration offenders.
According to the news release, prospective landlords should conduct three mandatory checks:
Check the tenant’s original immigration or work pass
Cross-check the particulars on their pass against the particulars on their
original passport
Verify the validity of the pass by checking with the issuing authority
Examples of issuing authorities include the Ministry of Manpower for work passes and the ICA for immigration passes, such as the student’s pass and long-term visit pass.
Penalties
If found guilty of recklessly or knowingly harbouring overstayers and/or illegal immigrants, a person faces six months to two years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to S$6,000.
If found guilty of negligently harbouring overstayers and/or illegal immigrants, a person faces up to 12 months' imprisonment or a fine of up to S$6,000 or both.
A Chinese national accused of raping and strangling a woman during a violent home invasion appeared in a New Zealand court on Wednesday to face charges, seven months after he was extradited from Singapore.
Zhang Xuesong reportedly fled to China following the alleged March 2024 Auckland break-in, complicating efforts to arrest him as no extradition treaty exists between the two countries.
The 41-year-old subsequently visited Singapore, where he was returned to New Zealand last September.
Zhang, who is also a Singapore resident, faces multiple charges including sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection, indecent assault, aggravated burglary, strangulation, assault with a weapon and sexual violation by rape.
The real estate professional pleaded not guilty in the Auckland High Court, which set a trial date for March 2027, The New Zealand Herald reported.
He risks two decades behind bars if convicted of the top charges.
Zhang Xuesong faces multiple charges including sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection, indecent assault, aggravated burglary, strangulation, assault with a weapon and sexual violation by rape. Photo: Shutterstock
According to court documents, Zhang, wielding a knife, forced his way into the victim’s home and placed tape over her mouth. He allegedly held the blade to the woman’s throat before subjecting her to humiliating sexual acts.
Zhang is further accused of strangling the woman, dragging the weapon across her torso and threatening to kill her.
The case echoes a string of violent residential break-ins that have plagued Auckland in recent years.
Police arrested four men after a 100km (62 miles) chase sparked by an armed home intrusion and assault in 2024. The suspects allegedly threatened the victim with guns before fleeing the scene in Auckland.
In 2019, two brothers were sentenced to four years and four months in prison for storming into a home and brutally attacking two sleeping occupants.
A judge called the siblings’ behaviour “simply outrageous”. They also ransacked the house, causing thousands of dollars’ worth of damage.
One man required surgery for a broken arm, while the other suffered lost teeth and needed facial stitches.