In a jaw-dropping tale of evasion and deception, a Singaporean man has been sentenced to over eight months in prison for using fake Malaysian passports more than 800 times to avoid his national service obligations.

The Deceptive Journey Begins

Meet Low Eng Kheng, a 60-year-old man who attempted to escape his national service duties back in the 1990s. His elaborate scheme spanned from 2006 to 2011, during which he exploited these counterfeit passports a staggering 876 times at various checkpoints, keeping authorities completely in the dark.

A Troubled Past Fueled by Fear

After leaving Singapore in the early 90s, Low's journey took a dark turn when he chose to remain in Malaysia, letting his Singapore passport expire in 2000. The turning point came in 2006 when his mother’s health deteriorated, prompting him to return home. However, fearing repercussions for his past, he resorted to drastic measures — acquiring a fake Malaysian passport for a hefty RM45,000.

The Master of Identities

Over the years, Low acquired multiple fake passports, all bearing the name 'Chong Poh Yin' but featuring his photograph. This clever ruse allowed him to go back and forth between Singapore and Malaysia undetected, until his last recorded entry into Singapore on May 2, 2011.

Caught Red-Handed

His luck ran out in September 2023 when the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) launched an investigation into multiple identities, leading to his arrest in August 2024. The exact circumstances of how his extensive deception was uncovered remain a mystery.

The Courtroom Drama

During his court trial, it was revealed that Low not only used fake documents but also submitted false information on immigration forms 59 times. His defense claimed he only wanted to support his family by working as a driver in Singapore.

High-Tech Measures to Combat Identity Fraud

In response to incidents like Low’s, since July 2020, ICA has implemented cutting-edge biometric systems at checkpoints, including iris and facial recognition technology, designed to prevent travelers from entering Singapore under false identities.

An ICA spokesperson stated firmly, "We will take decisive action against anyone attempting to enter using an impersonated identity or varying from their previous travel history." This incident serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of evading one’s responsibilities.