GEORGE TOWN: Beh Chew Boo, 38, who has been given a second chance at life, wants to put the past behind him and starts life anew.
The Penangite, who escaped the gallows after he was acquitted by the Singapore Court recently on all five charges of bringing drugs into the republic, said he felt relieved to be back home after being in prison for more than four years.
Chew Boo touched down at the Penang International Airport (PIA) in Bayan Lepas about 9.25am today (March 11) onboard a Scoot airline aircraft. Upon arrival, he underwent a Covid-19 swab test.
His father, Beh Ah Ba, 72, and sister, Beh Siew Yee, were eagerly awaiting at the arrival hall for him. They managed to pass to Chew Boo a Malaysian SIM card and exchanged a brief conversation with him before he was taken away for mandatory quarantine.
"I can't seem to find the right words to describe my feelings now. I have been feeling numb because I have been overwhelmed by so many things happening over the past 10 days.
"It all felt so unreal. Since my arrest in 2016, I have slowly let go of all hopes for the future. Now that I am finally back where I belong, I feel like a newborn because everything to me is new and unfamiliar.
"For now, my main priority is to spend some time getting to know my teenage daughter better and with my family. I want to be a good father to her and a good son and brother to my parents and siblings," Chew Boo told the New Straits Times today.
Chew Boo said he needed time to reflect after languishing behind bars for more than four years.
"I don't know what to expect, now that I am back to the real world. I would need some time to adjust myself," he added.
He said his only regret was to leave his "gang" of friends in Singapore, who have supported him all these months.
"I am especially thankful and grateful to my lawyer, Wong Siew Hong, who believe in me, fight for me and now, like a family to me. I owe my life to him," he added.
Chew Boon said he was mindful that his family, especially his father, was concerned about what the people would say about him and his release from prison.
"Of course the stigma is there but I am determined to stand up and tell everyone that I am innocent and that the apex court of Singapore had acquitted me.
"I want to share my story with everyone as a lesson to be cautious," he added.
Meanwhile, Ah Ba said he would try to put the past behind him.
"I don't want to think about anything else. The important thing is that my son is back with me after the ordeal he went through and that he was found not guilty.
"It is just that I am extremely grateful and thankful to the Singapore judiciary and prison system. While my son was in prison, I could still exchange words with him for 30 minutes every month.
"And during the recent Chinese New Year celebration, my son was allowed to take a three-day break," he added.
As for Siew Yee, she said the news of her brother's release was the best news ever for the family, and that everyone was excited to meet him after the quarantine.
"We are all happy because we know that it is not easy for one to escape from the gallows in Singapore, but my brother is released.
"Our only hope is to be reunited again as a family," she added.
When contacted, Wong said he would continue to assure Chew Boo and Ah Ba to stand tall, looked their detractors in the eyes and declared that "I am innocent".
"They told me that people in their town are still in a state of disbelief about Chew Boo's acquittal. Some passed very hurtful remarks.
"I told the senior Beh that there will always be people who want to put you down...toxic negativity. I told the family and I will continue to tell that that life must go on," he told the NST.
Wong said it had been a journey that he was allowed to share with Chew Boo.
"From the highs to the lows. I learned a lot along the way and I felt privileged that God has chosen to use me as his instrument to deliver Chew Boo from the 'Valley of the Shadow of Death'.
"The trip to the airport (this morning) is metaphoric. I picked him up in darkness. He left me to cross Customs as the sun was rising. New day. New life," he added.
Chew Boo made headlines when he escaped the noose in October after a three-judge panel of the Singapore Court of Appeal accepted his appeal. The panel made a 2-1 decision in Beh's favour.
Since his release from prison, Chew Boo has been staying at a hotel, courtesy of his lawyer. All his expenses until his returned home this morning have been handled by Wong.