Chinese woman jailed for overstaying in Singapore for 19 years

A 68-year-old Chinese national who remained unlawfully in Singapore for more than 19 years after skipping a repatriation flight has been sentenced to six months in prison and fined S$2,000 (US$1,565).

Ding Huiyun surrendered to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on Oct. 6 alongside her husband, later telling the court that she could no longer support herself financially in the city-state, AsiaOne reported.

On Wednesday, Ding pleaded guilty to one charge under the Immigration Act for overstaying following the expiration of her special pass. A second charge of failing to report for repatriation was taken into consideration during sentencing. She faces an additional 12 days behind bars if she fails to pay the fine.

The prosecution sought the statutory maximum jail term of six months alongside the S$2,000 fine in lieu of caning, which women are exempt from under Singapore law.

Passengers line-up at automated immigration control gates at Changi airport's Terminal 4 in Singapore, April 30, 2018. Photo by Reuters

Court proceedings revealed that Ding was previously convicted of immigration violations in May 2007 for unlawful entry and presence, receiving a four-week jail term and a S$1,500 fine, Channel NewsAsia reported.

Upon completing that sentence, the ICA granted her a temporary special pass to remain in Singapore as a prosecution witness. The pass was extended through mid-July 2007. However, when the extension lapsed, Ding failed to report to the repatriation branch for her scheduled flight back to China.

The prosecution noted that Ding chose to overstay to evade creditors back home, as her family in China was saddled with heavy debt.

For the next 19 years, two months, and 23 days, Ding lived under the radar, getting by on informal odd jobs before finally turning herself in when her financial resources ran out.

Pleading for leniency, Ding cited her struggles with diabetes and asked the court to factor in her voluntary surrender, Chinese-language news outlet 8world reported.

She also told the judge that her husband suffers from hypertension, expressing hope that the two could be deported together once their sentences are served so they could look after each other during the journey home. She added that neither of them holds a valid passport.

Prosecutors confirmed that Ding's husband had also been scheduled to plead guilty to overstaying on Wednesday, but his hearing was postponed due to illness.

In handing down the sentence, the judge emphasized that long-term overstaying offenses are difficult to detect. Given that this was Ding's second immigration conviction and that she had remained in the country unlawfully for nearly two decades, the court ruled that a stiff sentence was necessary to serve as an effective deterrent.

According to court filings, Ding's husband is accused of overstaying illegally for more than 18 years and 10 months. He is expected to enter a formal plea next week.