S’porean Man Jailed After Using Fake Malaysian Passports 876 Times to Dodge NS Training
A 60-year-old Singaporean man has been sentenced to jail after successfully dodging his NSman reservist duties for over three decades by using fake Malaysian passports — a shocking case that highlights not just national security concerns but the lengths some will go to avoid their national service responsibilities.
Fled to Malaysia to Escape Reservist Duties
The man, Low Eng Kheng, left Singapore in the early 1990s to avoid serving his Operationally Ready National Serviceman (ORNS) duties. After relocating to Malaysia, he failed to return for over a decade, and his Singapore passport eventually expired in June 2000, reported The Straits Times
But it wasn’t until his mother fell ill in 2006 that he decided to return to Singapore — albeit under false pretences. Rather than report to MINDEF or the Immigration authorities, Low paid RM45,000 (approximately S$13,500) for a forged Malaysian passport bearing his photo but with the name “Chong Poh Yin” and a fake birthdate.
Used Fake Passports Over 800 Times
Low would go on to purchase three more forged passports between 2008 and 2010, each costing him RM10,000 (around S$3,000). These fake documents were used a total of 876 times to enter and exit Singapore through various land checkpoints over the years.
The reason for the high frequency? According to his lawyer, Low had worked as a cross-border driver to support his wife and children in Malaysia. His numerous entries were allegedly due to the nature of his job and not for criminal purposes.
Still, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) took a serious view of the offences. Between March and May 2011 alone, Low made 59 false declarations in immigration forms, using incorrect names, birthdates and nationalities.
Arrested in 2024 After Biometric System Caught Up With Him
The ICA launched an investigation in 2023 after detecting inconsistencies in their biometric data systems, which now include facial recognition, fingerprint, and iris scans. These measures, implemented since 2020, are aimed at preventing identity fraud at Singapore’s borders.
Low was finally arrested in August 2024, after being identified through these advanced systems. By then, he had evaded the Singapore authorities for over three decades, all while slipping past border controls nearly 900 times.
Sentenced to Over 8 Months in Jail
On 11 July 2025, Low was charged in court and pleaded guilty to five offences under the Immigration Act. He was sentenced to eight months and 18 weeks’ imprisonment.
While his defence lawyer pleaded for leniency on the grounds that he used the documents to earn a living and not to commit criminal acts, the prosecution highlighted that Low had consciously and repeatedly violated immigration laws and deliberately avoided his national duty.
National Service Evasion Remains a Serious Offence
Singapore has always taken a firm stance on National Service evasion. This case serves as a strong reminder that such actions — even when seemingly motivated by personal or family obligations — carry serious legal consequences.
It also raises questions on how someone could have manipulated immigration systems for so long without detection and underscores the importance of biometric verification in modern border security.
For those considering similar paths, this case stands as a cautionary tale. National Service is not optional, and the long arm of the law eventually catches up — even decades later.