German career beggar Benjamin Holst denied entry into Singapore

Professional panhandler of international repute, Benjamin Holst, was denied entry into Singapore. The 32-year-old adventurer who suffers from macrodystrophia lipomatosa (an ailment that left his right leg supremely swollen), first rose to notoriety in 2014. Holst told a sad tale of how he had lost his money and wallet and ended up begging in Bangkok, only to have the public donate over $2,000 to him.

The sympathy he earned from the Thai public also won him a ticket back to Germany. But he spent all the money in Pattaya, drinking and partying away. He then started begging again at Pattaya beach, but was promptly deported by the Thai authorities.

A year later, he was seen begging on the streets of Denmark before appearing in Manila. In 2016, he was seen begging in Bali. More recently, Holst was doing what he does best in Vietnam, and also in Kuala Lumpur (KL) and Penang in Malaysia.

Before heading to Malaysia, Holst was in Singapore, visiting places like Geylang and Chinatown.

And said he enjoyed sightseeing in Chinatown, Sentosa and Marina Bay while he was here.

He went back to Malaysia after this and tried to re-enter Singapore via the Woodlands checkpoint where he was denied entry. He had planned to visit the red light district in Geylang again.

But that did not deter him. Holst went to KL and tried to fly into Singapore. But he was again denied entry into the country.

Holst claimed that the authorities in Singapore paid for his flight to Denmark – a claim that is not verified.

But it is all good that he did not get into Singapore. He is enjoying like with cigarettes and marijuana.