The Straits Times – 7 Jan 2000

He can run but he can't hide

By Chong Chee Kin

       A SMALL, wiry man leapt from a second-floor window and bolted for the gate when as security team made surprise checks at a construction site in Sengkang early yesterday morning.

      Several security officers went after him as he darted over the muddy ground and hid behind the rubbish “tongs” – the big steel containers used to hold construction waste.

      When he realised it was useless trying to hide, he dashed out and ran straight into the vice-like grip of a security officer who was part of a 30-strong raiding party from the security company, Safe Technology.

      The raid had been ordered by the main contractor, Bestbuild Development, to flush out illegal illegal immigrants from the site on which several blocks of HDB flats are being built.

      The man caught was an illegal immigrant from Thailand. Dozens of workers were also found sleeping in quarters at the site even though they were not registered as working there.

      A Straits Times team accompanied the security officers; and Safe Technology managing director Henry Siow led the operation which lasted nearly two hours.

      It was when they started their checks at about 1.30 am that they saw the man leap from the second floor.

      He had three identification documents on him. He claimed they were all his, though each bore a different name.

      When he was questioned, he admitted he had no work permit and was in Singapore illegally. He was handed over to the police.

      Mr Siow said his team also checked the unfinished apartment blocks to ensure that no illegal immigrants were hiding there.

      He said.“From our previous raids, we discovered some of them have made the flats their hideouts.”

     “In some cases, they brought mattresses there and were sleeping on them when we caught them.”

      In one operation last year, he added, the team caught nine illegal immigrants who were asleep on the rooftop of an unfinished block.

      He said: “These sites are hotspots for the illegal immigrants who think they can slip in easily under he cover of darkness, and them move out before dawn.”