Man, 50, gets jail for defaulting NS in 1994, using Indonesia passport to enter S'pore 78 times

A man, who failed to report for National Service (NS) in 1994 and used another identity and an Indonesian passport to enter Singapore multiple times, was jailed for 35 months and eight weeks.

According to Shin Min Daily News, 50-year-old Chua Chee Kiang was registered for NS on Oct. 5, 1992.

He was to report for NS on Sep. 29, 1994, but failed to do so.

On Oct. 10, 2023, Chua and his wife attempted to enter Singapore via the Singapore Cruise Centre, but the authorities discovered he was a wanted man and arrested him on the spot.

This was some 29 years after he skipped NS.

Chua faced a total of 31 charges and pleaded guilty to 11 of them.

The remaining 20 charges were taken into consideration during sentencing.

Applied for exit permit 22 times

The Chinese media reported that between Mar. 18, 1992, and Jun. 21, 1994, Chua had applied for an exit permit 22 times.

He was also aware that he had to fulfil his NS duties when he registered in 1992.

When he obtained his last travel permit, Chua went to Batam, Indonesia and decided not to return to Singapore to enlist.

His mother, who is Indonesian, had urged him to enlist, but he refused, Shin Min reported.

His father is a Singaporean.

Police issued emergency notice

After he defaulted NS, the police issued a notice against him on Oct. 11, 1994.

However, the authorities were unable to locate him over the next two years.

In 2000, Chua wanted to return to Singapore for a better life and emailed the Central Manpower Base (CMPB).

He explained that his overseas permit expired back in 1994 and said he was "too impulsive", "stupid", and "mentally unstable" at the time.

He added that he was also afraid of enlisting in NS, so he decided to run away to Indonesia without his mother's consent.

According to Shin Min, Chua also expressed remorse in the email and asked about the possibility of returning to Singapore and the consequences for defaulting NS.

However, CMPB replied and informed him that if convicted, he could face a fine of S$5,000, imprisonment for three years, or both.

He was also asked to apply for a return document from the Singapore embassy.

Afraid of going to prison, Chua then decided not to return to Singapore at the time.

Entered Singapore 78 times

But he found a way around it.

Chua entered and exited Singapore 78 times using an Indonesia passport, according to Shin Min.

When he was 14 or 15 years old, he learned from his mother that she had obtained an Indonesian identity for him in the name of Tan Tjie Khiang.

He was registered as her brother's household and the Indonesian identity was accompanied by a different date and place of birth.

He then applied for an Indonesia passport using his other identity when he wanted to leave Indonesia in 2000.

Over the course of nine years, Chua entered and exited Singapore 78 times.

Before his arrest, Chua had obtained six Indonesian passports under his other identity, said Shin Min.

Top photo via Canva