Ma Teresa Bebango Bedico v PP: Immigration Act Violation & Re-entry Without Permission
Ma Teresa Bebango Bedico was charged under Section 36 of the Immigration Act for re-entering Singapore without the Controller's written permission after being lawfully removed. The High Court, presided over by Yong Pung How CJ, dismissed her petition for criminal revision, finding that all elements of the offense were present in the statement of facts to which she had pleaded guilty. The court found no error, illegality, impropriety or irregularity which caused serious injustice.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
High Court1.2 Outcome
Petition dismissed.
1.3 Case Type
Criminal
1.4 Judgment Type
Grounds of Decision
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
Ma Teresa Bebango Bedico pleaded guilty to re-entering Singapore without permission after a prior removal order. The High Court dismissed her criminal revision petition.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Prosecutor | Respondent | Government Agency | Petition dismissed | Won | Amarjit Singh of Deputy Public Prosecutor |
| Ma Teresa Bebango Bedico | Petitioner | Individual | Petition dismissed | Lost |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Yong Pung How | Chief Justice | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Amarjit Singh | Deputy Public Prosecutor |
| Pang Xiang Zhong | Peter Pang & Co |
4. Facts
- The petitioner was previously convicted under s 36 of the Immigration Act.
- The petitioner was served with an order of removal and removed from Singapore.
- The petitioner obtained a new passport without the entry ban.
- The petitioner entered Singapore without disclosing the entry ban.
- The petitioner pleaded guilty to the statement of facts.
5. Formal Citations
- Ma Teresa Bebango Bedico v Public Prosecutor, Criminal Revision No 9 of 2001, [2002] SGHC 11
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Petitioner charged under s 36 of the Immigration Act. | |
| Order of removal served on the petitioner. | |
| Petitioner removed from Singapore. | |
| Petitioner entered Singapore. | |
| Petitioner arrested. | |
| High Court dismissed the petition. |
7. Legal Issues
- Re-entry into Singapore without permission
- Outcome: The court found that all elements of the offense were present.
- Category: Substantive
- Criminal Revision
- Outcome: The court declined to exercise its revisionary power.
- Category: Procedural
- Related Cases:
- [2000] 2 SLR(R) 351
- [1996] 1 SLR 326
- [1999] 3 SLR 362
- [1994] 3 SLR 140
- [1997] 3 SLR 429
8. Remedies Sought
- Criminal Revision
9. Cause of Actions
- Violation of Section 36 of the Immigration Act
10. Practice Areas
- Criminal Revision
- Immigration Offences
11. Industries
- No industries specified
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teo Hee Heng v PP | High Court | Yes | [2000] 2 SLR(R) 351 | Singapore | Cited for the principle that criminal revision is not a 'backdoor appeal' against conviction. |
| Ang Poh Chuan v PP | High Court | Yes | [1996] 1 SLR 326 | Singapore | Cited for the requirement of 'serious injustice' to attract the exercise of revisionary jurisdiction. |
| Glenn Knight Jeyasingam v PP | High Court | Yes | [1999] 3 SLR 362 | Singapore | Clarified the relationship between Criminal Procedure Code s 266(1) and the requirement of 'serious injustice'. |
| Mok Swee Kok v PP | High Court | Yes | [1994] 3 SLR 140 | Singapore | Cited for the principles regarding the statement of facts and its role in a guilty plea. |
| Packir Malim v PP | High Court | No | [1997] 3 SLR 429 | Singapore | Cited regarding reliance on facts not disclosed in the record. |
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| No applicable rules |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Section 36 of the Immigration Act (Cap 133, 1997 Ed) | Singapore |
| Section 23 of the Supreme Court of Judicature Act (Cap 322) | Singapore |
| Criminal Procedure Code (Cap 68) | Singapore |
| s 9(5) of the Immigration Act | Singapore |
| s 9(1)(a)(i) of the Immigration Act | Singapore |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Immigration Act
- Order of Removal
- Entry Ban
- Criminal Revision
- Statement of Facts
- Controller of Immigration
- Visit Pass
15.2 Keywords
- Immigration Act
- Re-entry
- Removal Order
- Criminal Revision
- Singapore
17. Areas of Law
| Area Name | Relevance Score |
|---|---|
| Immigration | 85 |
| Criminal Revision | 75 |
| Sentencing | 60 |
16. Subjects
- Immigration Law
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Procedure