2 months’ jail for man who took IPPT for NSman

SINGAPORE — For helping an operationally ready national serviceman (NSman) take the Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) in exchange for the payout disbursed by the Defence Ministry, a 37-year-old man was on Tuesday (Sept 13) sentenced to two months’ jail.

Kho Puay Meng had pleaded guilty to one count for abetment by conspiracy to cheat. There are two other accomplices in this case: Lim Chun Chyi, 35, and Tan Yi Li, 27.

Court documents revealed that sometime in 2014, Lim approached Kho to help take the IPPT on behalf of NSmen who were solicited by Lim or who made such requests through Lim.

Lim would arrange to collect the NSmen’s personal documents such as their identity cards and would make the booking of an IPPT slot online. He would then do the test or ask someone to do it.

In early November 2014, Lim called Tan, who was an NSman at the time, to ask if he had completed his IPPT. Lim offered to complete the test on Tan’s behalf in exchange for the payout. Tan agreed and they met on Nov 11 for Lim to collect his identity card to make a booking.

Lim then contacted Kho and asked him to complete the test on Tan’s behalf in return for a cut of the payout. Kho, who did not know Tan, agreed to do so.

On the day of the IPPT on Nov 22, Lim met Kho at Khatib Camp’s entrance and gave him Tan’s identity card. Kho went on to complete the test and clinched the Gold incentive award, which includes a S$400 payout. Kho pocketed half of the cash.

On Dec 6 that year, a Certis Cisco fitness trainer at the IPPT centre in Khatib Camp recognised Lim from a few weeks before. The trainer then searched Lim’s IPPT records and discovered that he was taking the test on behalf of another NSman.

The Singapore Armed Forces Provost started investigations and the case was later handed to the police in April last year.

In urging the court to impose a two-month jail term, the prosecution pointed out that there were aggravating factors in this case.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Ng Jean Ting said that Kho and the co-conspirators deceived a public institution. She added that the need for general deterrence is “even more pronounced” in this case because the scheme “undermined the National Service regime and its associated public policy objectives”.

“The conspiracy was hatched pursuant to motivations of the reservist personnel to evade an essential aspect of their National Service obligations, (through) the IPPT test, and on the part of the accused persons, a desire for personal financial gain,” she added.

Kho could have been jailed up to 10 years and fined.