LOST AND FOUND: Mr Tung Soen Keng (centre), 54, who was featured in a missing persons advertisement in The Straits Times on Aug 1, catches up with two of his brothers, Mr Tang Kok Keng (left), 66, and Mr Tang Yook Keng, 69. -- PHOTO: ST PHOTO: CHEW SENG KIM

It turns out that Mr Tung Soen Keng, 54, who lives in a rental flat in Redhill, has been taking most of his meals - for free - near Joo Chiat.

Mr Tung's surname differs from that of his brothers because of an error in his birth certificate.

The gaunt, slightly built man was reunited with his brothers on Wednesday night, following tip-offs from readers who had seen his picture, published on Aug 1 as part of a tie-up between the Singapore Press Holdings Foundation and Crime Library.

Acting on these leads, a Crime Library team tracked him down to Mangil Restaurant on Monday evening. He was sitting by himself, having nasi lemak and a cup of Milo.

The team found out he had been there almost daily in the past five months, having his lunch and dinner on the house.

Restaurant manager Nur Indah said the management did not want him to go hungry.

When approached, the man did not identify himself, but agreed to the Crime Library team taking pictures of him, with which his family later identified him.

His brother, building contractor Tang Kok Keng, 66, said he has a history of mental illness and had been hospitalised at the then Woodbridge Hospital several times between 1982 and 1984.

But he refused to take his medication after that and lived with their mother, first in Kampong Bahru and then in Redhill till she died three years ago.

He went missing not long after. The family lodged a police report in July 2005.

The Straits Times tagged along when Crime Library, Mr Tang and another brother, Mr Tang Yook Keng, 69, returned to the restaurant on Wednesday evening.

Mr Tung turned up several hours later, by which time his brothers had left. Only the Crime Library team was there, which for some reason spooked him. He fled.

When Madam Nur Indah and the team, joined later by his brothers, caught up with him, he did not try to run. But the reunion was not a teary one either.

His first words to them in Cantonese: 'Why are the both of you here?'

Mr Tung said he disliked living with his siblings and wanted to live by himself in Redhill.

Asked whether the family was afraid he might go missing again, Mr Tang Kok Keng said: 'We have to respect his wishes. But we will be keeping a close eye on him.'

HIS FIRST WORDS

'Why are the both of you here?'
MR TUNG SOEN KENG to his brothers

HIS BROTHER'S PARTING WORDS

'We have to respect his wishes. But we will be keeping a close eye on him.'
MR TANG KOK KENG, when his brother said he preferred to live alone