29-12-2023 (SINGAPORE) A Singaporean man was sentenced to 20 weeks in jail on Friday for using a fake Malaysian passport to illegally enter and exit Singapore multiple times between 2008-2009.
58-year old Andrew Lu Eng Leong had assumed he was wanted for a gang fight in 1991 and fled to Malaysia, allowing his passport to expire. He later obtained a fraudulent Malaysian ID and passport to visit family in Singapore, avoiding authorities by using the false identity of “Low Kheng Nyok.”
Lu pleaded guilty to five charges related to producing misleading documents and making false statements to immigration officers over his visits. He was granted 30-day passes each time despite the bogus paperwork.
Prosecutors highlighted the need to uphold border security, arguing Lu had deliberately circumvented controls. But Lu’s lawyer sought a lighter 16-week sentence.
In delivering the 20-week sentence, District Judge Paul Chan emphasized deterrence principles and Singapore’s authority to police its borders. He agreed Lu had flouted regulations over an extended period.
The case spotlights the ongoing cat-and-mouse game between immigration authorities and those seeking to slip past scrutiny. The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority stated it regularly enhances systems to detect such deceptions.
Upgrades like biometric screening aim to strengthen verification and border defenses against identity fraud. Still, some like Lu resort to creative means, from false documents to evasive statements, to deceive officers.
