28-8-2024 (SINGAPORE) A Singaporean man has been sentenced to 15 months and six weeks in jail for repeatedly using a fraudulently obtained Philippines passport to circumvent Singapore’s immigration laws. The case, which has been ongoing since 2016, reached its conclusion on Wednesday, August 28, with the conviction of 69-year-old Goh Chin Soon.
Goh, who claimed to be fleeing danger from “corrupt officials” in China, was found guilty of 46 charges under the Immigration Act for producing misleading documents to immigration officers. The court heard that Goh had used the false passport, which bore the name Ngo Boris Jacinto and listed a 1967 birth date, to enter and exit Singapore 46 times between 2011 and 2012.
The prosecution argued that Goh’s actions were a deliberate attempt to evade restrictions imposed on him as an undischarged bankrupt. As per Singaporean law, undischarged bankrupts require permission to travel abroad, a requirement Goh sought to circumvent through his use of the fraudulent passport.
Goh’s defence rested on a claim of necessity, asserting that he needed the Philippines passport to escape potential harm in China. He painted a complex narrative involving corrupt Chinese officials, seized properties, and a convoluted process of obtaining the passport through intermediaries for US$250,000.
However, the prosecution presented a different version of events. They contended that Goh had applied for a Singapore passport at the Singapore Consulate-General in Xiamen in April 2010 but was denied due to unresolved bankruptcy issues. Instead of addressing these issues, Goh opted to purchase the Philippines passport.
The prosecution highlighted the suspicious circumstances surrounding Goh’s acquisition of the passport and his continued use of it even after successfully applying for a Singapore passport in early 2012. They argued that this behaviour demonstrated Goh’s intent to avoid detection by Singapore authorities.
In delivering the sentence, the court rejected Goh’s defence, with the prosecution describing his explanations as “fanciful excuses” and “an elaborate web of lies”. They noted Goh’s lack of remorse and his persistence in maintaining his version of events even after investigations had begun.
Goh has indicated his intention to appeal against both his conviction and sentence.
