Sep 03 2009
Jailed in India — family thought he was meditating in the Himalayas!
 image source |
One of the most important things to do when planning to live long-term in a foreign country is to find out and adhere to the immigration laws of the land. The last thing you want is to be struggling to communicate with police/judges as they take you into custody / throw you in jail on charges you may or may not be guilty of, if only you could understand what was going on….
Thankfully, I’ve not faced such a situation… although paying taxi fare in Beijing and messing around in a casino in Manila already brought unpleasant brushes with communication breakdown… Strictly in terms of immigration rules, though, I made it a point never to overstay back when I was visiting and staying with Kosh while on my US tourist visa; I also didn’t attempt any illegal work, etc, anything that would jeopardize future visits and changes of status.
Then there was this unfortunate gentleman, Lim Soon Heng, a Malaysian who traveled to Varanasi (formerly known as Benares), India, in order to pursue spiritual fulfillment and Vedic knowledge back in 2001.
 Varanasi (Benares) [source] |
For years, he donned orange robes and lived with fellow seekers while dutifully renewing his visa every year.
Then for reasons not revealed, he didn’t renew his passport when it expired in 2005.
Somehow or other the law caught up with him: in December 2007 he was thrown in jail for violating local immigration laws.
… but wait, here’s where it gets really bad …
No one was informed of his incarceration.
Not the Malaysian High Commission.
Not his family.
No one.
For almost two years, Lim languished in the Varanasi jail while his family believed he was meditating in the Himalayas. It was only because a German Embassy official visiting an imprisoned German national came across Lim and brought word to the Malaysian High Commission did anyone find out about his predicament.
With intervention by Malaysian officials, Lim has since been released, and is now in Delhi awaiting the necessary paperwork that will allow him to return to Malaysia. “Emotionally shattered, financially crippled and jobless, Lim will be returning home with unpleasant memories of Varanasi and also to an uncertain future.”
Yikes.
Reading about Lim’s experience underscores the importance of keeping someone abreast of how things are going, even as one pursues a life free of attachments such as what Lim was doing… if ever I were to try something like this, I can see myself still holding on to my cell phone: wouldn’t it be wise to arrange for a regular (weekly? daily?) phone call, text message or email to touch base with someone at home, someone who can raise the alarm if you don’t make contact as planned?
How about you… any adventures relating to breaking or bending immigration laws in countries you’ve visited/stayed in? Do share, I’m all ears 
For your reading pleasure:
Indian spiritual journey lands Malaysian in jail, NST online, 31st August 2009
