However, after about 21 years on the run, Tan surrendered to Singapore authorities in August last year.
Today, he pleaded guilty to the charges.
According to The Straits Times, Tan, 46, turned himself in as he wanted to look after his father who had been diagnosed with lung cancer.
Tan pleaded guilty today to four counts each of committing forgery for the purpose of cheating and taking part in a conspiracy to commit such crimes. Ten other charges for similar offences will be considered during sentencing, the report said.
The court heard that in February 1996, Tan had obtained a sales agreement to purchase a flat co-owned by Teo Choon Huat and Teng Kin Leng. He also had a tenancy agreement between his mother and Ang Swee Lian.
Through these documents, Tan obtained Teo’s, Teng’s, and Ang’s NRIC, addresses and signatures and used the particulars to fill in and sign applications for credit cards.
Tan was assisted by his friend, William Chiah Wee Ming, who remains at large.
After applying for the credit cards, Tan drafted letters of authorisation, which he then used to obtain notices of assessment. The notices of assessment were to be used to facilitate applications for other credit cards.
In August 1996, Tan was caught after attempting to apply for a Diners Club card on Chiah’s instruction.
Tan had engaged a courier to collect the card and deliver it to him so as to avoid detection. However, Diners Club had detected the fraud and contacted Teo, who told Diners Club that his particulars had been used without his consent.
On Aug 30, 1996, when Tan went to collect his card, he saw that the courier was accompanied by a Diners Club staff member, who subsequently called the police.
Tan was to have appeared in court on Nov 8, 1996, but before his scheduled court appearance, he paid a private taxi driver S$300 (RM900) to drive him into Malaysia.
While in Malaysia, Tan operated a coffee stall and became a father to two daughters.
He decided to return to Singapore because, apart from his father’s lung cancer, he believed that his daughters were now able to take care of themselves.
Tan’s lawyer, Choo Si Sen, said: “When both of them had grown up as adults and could fend for themselves, he decided to return to Singapore.”
Choo sought a sentence of 24 months for Tan, saying that Tan’s role in the crimes committed was minor compared to that of Chiah.
Tan will be sentenced on Jan 17, and could be jailed for up to 10 years and fined on each count.