SINGAPORE: A man who did not renounce his Singapore citizenship after becoming an Australian citizen was fined S$2,400 for failing to present his Singapore passport when he entered the country.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday (Nov 12), Teo Teck Yong Jerome Leonard, 69, was convicted on three counts of failing to present his Singapore passport for examination upon arrival at immigration checkpoints in Singapore.<\/p>\n
Court documents showed that Teo left Singapore in 2000 to seek employment opportunities in Australia.<\/p>\n
In August 2003, he became an Australian citizen.<\/p>\n
He was issued an Australian passport on Nov 11, 2005, which he used to clear immigration when he arrived at Changi Airport on Aug 6, 2008 and May, 6, 2009.<\/p>\n
Teo also presented his Australian passport when he arrived at the immigration clearance at the Singapore Cruise Centre on Sept 4, 2008.<\/p>\n
He was arrested on Oct 17, 2025 by Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers. Court documents did not state where he was arrested.<\/p>\n
Teo, who was unrepresented, asked the judge for leniency in mitigation, citing his medical issues that require him to visit the optometrist every two months.<\/p>\n
In response, the ICA prosecutor highlighted that Teo committed the offence out of convenience, and that he had exploited his access to both countries.<\/p>\n
Responding to queries from The Straits Times, an ICA spokesperson said that Singapore does not allow its adult citizens to hold dual citizenship.<\/p>\n
\u201cICA will investigate cases of suspected dual citizenship.<\/p>\n
\u201cSingapore citizens who are found to have obtained foreign citizenship or exercised the rights of a foreign citizen may be deprived of their Singapore citizenship, or be required to give up their foreign citizenship if they wish to retain their Singapore citizenship.\u201d<\/p>\n
Teo has since paid the fine in full.<\/p>\n
For failing to produce a valid passport when entering or leaving Singapore, an offender can be fined up to $1,000, jailed for six months, or both. – The Straits Times\/ANN<\/p>\n
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