Malaysian family charged with human smuggling

A Malaysian woman and her two grown children were charged on Friday with trying to sneak three Sri Lankan kids to London. The trio were arrested Thursday evening at Changi Airport after a security officer suspected the children’s identities did not match the Malaysian passports they held.

The kids, all about 11 years old, were about to board a plane for London with the suspects, according to the charges filed.

Police are probing whether the incident is connected to a larger child-smuggling operation. Police spokesman Ng Siew Hua said the kids be cared for while investigations continue.

Looking grim, Madam Vigiletchumi Suparayan, 61, was produced at a special court session yesterday with her son Sangar Shanmugam, 39, and daughter Pathmavathy Shanmugam, 31.

They were charged with conspiring with others to bring the three children to London. (story)

Changi Airport handles a record 36.7 million passengers in 2007

Singapore’s Changi Airport handled record passenger traffic of 36.7 million in 2007, up almost 5 percent from the previous year, the government said Monday. Last year’s passenger traffic broke the previous record of 35.03 million set in 2006 and was driven by strong growth in China and India, the airport operator, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, said.

Emerging markets like Vietnam, Russia and South Africa also contributed to last year’s record showing, it said. (story)

More security at airports please

Singaporeans are willing to weather delays at the airport for safer air travel, according to a study released on Tuesday. The latest Unisys Security Index, which surveyed citizens from 14 countries on security issues, found Singaporeans among the most concerned about aviation security in the region.

Of the 891 Singaporeans between 18 and 64 polled, 96 per cent believed more needed to be done to make regional air travel more secure, while 94 per cent of Hong Kongers and Malaysians believed the same.

And 97 per cent of Singaporeans were willing to go through added security measures to help make regional airline travel safer.

Almost as many Hong Kongers and 95 per cent of Malaysians feel the same way.

This despite measures that would inconvenience them, such as arriving at the airport 30 minutes earlier for extra screening, or providing more personal information, such as a traveler’s identity scheme. (story)

US security measures prevent some from travelling

United States-bound travellers recently had their holiday plans disrupted when they were told at Changi Airport that they either had to get a new passport or a visa to enter the country. The Straits Times understands that in the last few weeks, an average of at least one traveller a day has been turned away by check-in staff because of passport problems.

Under US immigration laws, Singapore passport holders do not need a visa if their passports fall in one of three categories:

Passports issued, renewed or extended on or after Oct 26, 2006 must be biometric - containing a computer chip embedded with the passport holder’s thumbprint and unique facial features. (story)

Singapore Airport contemplates acquisitions

Singapore’s Changi Airports International is keen on a stake in Abu Dhabi’s international airport and is also eyeing two smaller terminals in China for takeover, its chief told Reuters today.

Changi Airports clinched an 18-month contract to operate the Abu Dhabi government-owned airport in December, and is angling to turn this into equity as authorities have said the airport was likely to be privatized by next year. (story)

Singapore police investigate stowaway

The security division of the KL International Airport has lodged a report at the Sepang district police station on the Palestinian who stowed away in a front wheel well of a Singapore Airline jet to Changi Airport.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy said the report lodged Tuesday morning was to allow the Malaysian police to start its investigations on the matter.

He said the decision to lodge the report was made after receiving a brief report on the stowaway from the Singapore police on Monday night.

Stating that the content of the Singapore police report could not be revealed, Chan hoped they would get strong support from the Singapore authorities.

(source)