A Thai couple, two Burmese men and a Chinese national were found huddled in a car boot in an attempt to sneak into Malaysia from neighbouring Singapore, reports said today.

Immigration officers stopped the car late Sunday at a bridge linking the two countries and found the foreigners crammed in the boot, the Malay-language Utusan Malaysia said.

"A few immigrations officers noticed something strange because there was o­nly o­ne driver but his car seemed to have a heavy load," immigration director-general Mohamad Jamal Kamdi was quoted as saying.

The Star

said the foreigners were believed to have been smuggled out of Singapore as their work permits and social visit passes had expired.

To be charged soon

The 19-year-old Malaysian driver has been detained. Mohamad Jamal said the driver was paid RM500 for each person in his car.

"This is probably an indication that many who had overstayed are looking for ways to get out of the republic without getting caught," he said.

"We will work closely with our Singapore counterpart to curb human smuggling to Malaysia and vice versa."

The driver, who would be charged for smuggling in illegal immigrants, could be fined up to RM50,000, jailed for up to five years and receive up to six whippings if convicted, he said.

The five foreigners would also be hauled to court and face a fine of up to RM10,000, a jail sentence of up to five years and up to six whips of the cane if found guilty of entering the country illegally, he added. AFP