A 79-year-old man was reportedly living by himself in the Sungei Tengah forest in Singapore, for the last 33 years, before his homeless status was discovered.
He was in fact the same person who was caught illegally hawking vegetables that he grew himself to make a living at Teck Whye Lane on 25 December.
The vegetables were confiscated by the authorities.
According to Shin Min Daily News and The Straits Times, the 79-year-old man was identified as Mr Oh Go Seng, and he has been rough sleeping for over thirty years, living in a makeshift tent made out of plastic canvas being propped up with wooden sticks inside the forest.
Stayed after kampung was cleared
Oh had stayed in the forest after his kampung was cleared and has been going to the housing estate nearby to make money by selling vegetables.
He grew his own vegetables in the forest and cooks with an open fire, eating porridge and vegetables that have been preserved.
He also used water that is untreated from a pond nearby for cleaning and wears clothes that other people have given him.
Relocated
Bukit Panjang MP Liang Eng Hwa shared an update on the elderly man’s situation after being made aware, and he has since been relocated to a rental flat.
It is understood that Oh has a wife and daughter in Batam, although they are unaware of his situation here.
He also has a relative living in Bukit Panjang, who is the daughter-in-law of his late brother.