Firsthand: Ex-convicts empowering youths to undo their regrets through subsidised tattoo removals

Ex-convicts granted a second chance to contribute to society through their shared passions

By: Choo Jing Yin, Nurul Adriena Bte Adnan

Left to right: Nelson Lee, Mark Lai - the founders of InkOutSg that have been friends for over 20 years began their shared business in early 2023. (PHOTO: Choo Jing Yin)

Is there something you did in the past that influenced how others perceive you, and do you wish you had a chance to change it?

If the answer is yes, you are not alone. Regrets are a common and natural part of the human experience. It can bring about feelings of sorrow and self-criticism. It is also common when you have a strong desire to want to change or undo your regrets. However, not everyone has the opportunity to do so.

How about a tattoo regret?

Meet Nelson Lee, 48, and Mark Lai, 45, the founders of InkOutSg — a tattoo removal service that was established in the first quarter of the year. Beyond tattoo removal, as former convicts, they wish to provide an opportunity for the younger generation by allowing them to reverse a regret that they have in regards to tattoos and their past.

The Journey Begins

Nelson and Mark, who have been childhood friends, embarked on this unique journey out of sheer interest. In 2015, they purchased a tattoo removal machine together where they experimented removal for each other, beginning their unconventional venture.

“It was quite a funny thing, I ‘lasered’ him and he ‘lasered’ me. We wanted to (remove) our tattoo, then we decided why not get a machine to try it ourselves,” said Nelson.

At first, it was just an experimentation between them to see if it really would work and if it's possible to remove their own tattoos.

However, they slowly developed a shared interest to want to extend their help to other people due to their experiences in the past that gave them a new purpose to give back to the community.

In an attempt to remove their own tattoos, Mark and Nelson experimented with laser removal on each other upon getting their first laser machine together, back in 2015. (PHOTO: Mark Lai)

The Backstory

In their early twenties, both of them found themselves influenced by a negative social circle, eventually leading them into the clutches of a secret society and the world of drug consumption.

As for Nelson, what began as a seemingly carefree adventure soon turned into a nightmare when his family found themselves burdened by a substantial debt, amounting to $60,000, involving 16 loan sharks.

“At that time, we did not have a lot of money. It may seem very little to some people, that could be easily paid off but it was a huge sum to us because I wasn’t from a very well to do family.”

Faced with desperation and limited options, Nelson resorted to a fateful decision: engaging in drug trafficking as a means to clear the mounting debt. He utilized his connections to purchase and distribute drugs, although fully aware of the consequences of his actions.

This path, while providing an easy way out to the financial crisis, took a toll on his own life when he was caught by the authorities. During the court proceeding, his passport faced confiscation. Nelson then made a life-changing decision where he decided to lead a life on the run and fled to Malaysia through the transportation of a speedboat.

“When I got out of jail, I just heard from people (that) he is already on the run,” said Mark.

The turning point that changed Nelson’s life

In 2003, Nelson's life took an abrupt turn when he fled from the authorities, setting off a six-year-long period of living in the shadows. During this turbulent time, he had no legal identity and was essentially an illegal immigrant in Malaysia.

The early days were particularly challenging, as he was living a life out of working in a nightclub, where police raids were a common occurrence. In order to stay under the radar, he decided to seek a more stable job and that was when he crossed paths with his future wife in a logistic company, marking a significant point in his life.

Leveraging his knowledge from his past work experience, he joined a logistics company and played a crucial role in the successful establishment of the brand. Despite his dedication and hard work, his pay remained stagnant with no career advancements in sight.

“The boss knew about my identity, and my salary was all paid in cash. I worked for him for 2 years but no matter how much sales I was bringing in for the company, my salary was still below RM2000.”

With the unwavering support of his future wife and her family, he then left the company and started his very own business. Everything was going well in the initial year, business was booming and things started to look better for once in a long time.

Yet, an unexpected turn of events led him back to square one.

“One night, the police came out of nowhere and just like that, I was arrested and brought back to Singapore.”

Grappling with financial losses faced by the competition of Nelson’s company, his former boss reported him to the police as he was a threat to his business.

The already shadowy chapter of his life took another life-altering turn.

Life Behind Bars

Ultimately, the path he had chosen caught up with him after 6 years. In 2009, he was caught and sentenced to 5.5 years in jail for the possession of drugs and drug trafficking.

Unfortunately, at the time of his arrest, his wife was heavily pregnant and was about a month away from delivering the baby.

“I was arrested in June, and my wife gave birth in July.”

At the time of his sentencing, he received an unexpectedly warm gesture which took him by surprise.

“My baby was crying very loudly outside the courtroom when I was being sentenced and I just kept looking at the door. The judge heard it and asked if it was my child crying outside. From the moment my baby was born, I didn't even get to see and touch her once. I asked for a chance to touch her before I had to leave and the judge agreed.

At that moment, I cried. I don’t know why but I just did. I was very thankful to the judge for accepting my request because by right, (it) shouldn't be allowed.”

Living behind bars, became a place of reflection in Nelson's life. It was here that he confronted his own regrets and reflected deeply on the choices that had led him astray.

He found himself sharing the prison walls with people from vastly different walks of life, including those facing death sentences.

"When you are in jail, you see a lot of things. Some people don't get to leave this place, but I still have a chance."

Challenging Stereotypes

After numerous years of being locked up behind bars, Nelson was released in 2013 with a reduced sentence of 3.8 years.

During that period of time, it was very difficult for him to find jobs given the label of an ex-convict. He also mentioned that in society today, people with tattoos still face stereotypes and discrimination. They encounter barriers in the working world, with many feeling self-conscious about how people would view them.

“I have gone through so much in life so I know how it feels like to be judged by my tattoos. Up until today, there is still a stereotype out there even if nobody talks about it, especially in a working industry.”

According to a survey by YouGov, 47% of employers are less likely to hire individuals with tattoos. Almost half of the employers are uncomfortable hiring someone with tattoos which limits their career opportunities by half. This shows that stereotypes are still prevalent in this day and age when it comes to accepting those with tattoos.

When we asked around our group of friends that also have tattoos, a common concern being raised by them would be getting tattoos impulsively and then regretting their decision after that. One alternative they thought of would be to get it removed, but being young, it can be inaccessible due to the costs.

Ultimately, they would have to just live with this regret that they have.

“When you get a tattoo at a young age, there is a chance of you regretting it afterwards because you are not mature enough to think at that point in time. I only understood after I stepped into the society and experienced it for myself.”

The possibility of a stereotype on tattoos would make it difficult for younger people to find a job when they step into the working industry. It might also explain some of the reasons why youngsters might double back on their decisions to get tattoos by wanting to remove them.

According to HomeGround, Dr. Yeo, a doctor in Singapore, also shares a similar account with the way he was treated while being heavily tattooed in the healthcare industry stating that, “All the colleagues whom I’ve spoken to are alright with it, so from my end, it seems like there is this nebulous group of people who wanted me to cover up my tattoos, and I’m under the impression that this is by far the minority” .

At the end of the day, it is definitely possible to find a job but it largely depends on the employer’s values and personal views on tattoos. Well, Nelson thankfully managed to find someone that was willing to accept his past.

Starting off in a clean slate

Nelson’s logistics business back in Malaysia was being run by his wife while he focused on his job in Singapore.

He was working for an ex-boss that presented him with an opportunity to venture into the shipping industry. Despite having no experience in the field, he was willing to try it out to expand his horizons and gain new skills.

On the other hand, Mark started off working in another tattoo removal shop where he was providing removal services under someone else. He had many qualms with how things were being run where the environment was very profit driven. There wasn’t much care being given to the customers and they were essentially just providing a service.

“I didn’t like how things were like there. Their main purpose was to earn money so there was no room for discussion when it came to the prices,” said Mark.

After a few years of working in their separate lines and gaining financial stability, Mark and Nelson decided to jump in head first into their venture and opened up a store providing tattoo removal services.

Mark was in-charge of the tattoo removal, while Nelson managed the business.

As for them, they aren't driven by profit but rather the idea of extending their help to people that wish they had a chance to reverse a past decision.

"Some things, when you regret, you can still do something about it and start over again, and a tattoo is one of them because there are a lot of things that you can't change," said Nelson.

Which is why other than normal tattoo removal services, they have also come with a scheme providing subsidised rates for youths below the age of 21. Their motivation to help the younger generation stems from the understanding that there are youths that have made mistakes and have regrets in life.

While some regrets cannot be changed, tattoo removal provides a chance to help them.

Up Close and personal: A returning customer turned to Mark to remove another tattoo after her first session with InkOutSg, undoing her regrets one at a time. (PHOTO: Mark Lai)

One thing that both of them said in the same exact words was “Always think twice before you do something.”

Recognising the same value that they share in regards to ink, they wanted to provide the opportunity for younger people to have an accessible means of removing their regrets without needing to live their life with it.

Their Mission:

“We had the chance to learn this and since we have this skill, why not put it to use to try to help other people too,” said Mark.

Their mission goes beyond tattoo removal. Nelson and Mark want to give back to society by providing as many young people as possible with a ‘second chance’ to undo their regrets. Driven by a deep commitment to social responsibility and a desire to make a meaningful difference in the lives of young people who carry the weight of past regrets. Their approach is not just about tattoo removal but about providing individuals with an opportunity to overcome stereotypes, break down barriers, and start anew, ultimately contributing to a more inclusive and compassionate society.

"It's the stages of life. Everyone will go through different stages in their life. It just depends where it'll lead you and how you make important decisions when you step into a new stage,” said Nelson.

In a world filled with regrets, Nelson and Mark have found their purpose in helping others rewrite their stories, one tattoo at a time. Their journey is a testament to the power of second chances.

Before removing a 10-year-old tattoo regret for a new customer that is visiting the store for the first time. Mark evaluates her pain tolerance prior to the removal. (PHOTO: Choo Jing Yin)

They have recently launched a new store located at the center of Singapore on 1st November 2023, with the hopes of making their services more accessible to the public and be able to reach and help out more youths.

In renovations - 3D render of their new outlet located at 371 Beach Rd, #B1-52, City Gate. (PHOTO: Nelson Lee)