SINGAPORE: A 47-year-old Singaporean man with Indonesian citizenship was sentenced to the maximum of three years' jail on Tuesday (May 26) for failing to enlist for National Service (NS) in Singapore.
The judge said Edmond Yao Zhi Hai had evaded his NS obligations for over two decades. He was born in Singapore but later acquired Indonesian citizenship. Under Singapore law, male citizens and permanent residents are required to serve NS upon reaching 18 years old.
Yao was charged with one count of remaining outside Singapore without a valid exit permit, an offence under the Enlistment Act. The prosecution sought the maximum sentence, citing the prolonged evasion and lack of remorse.
In mitigation, Yao's lawyer argued that he had been living in Indonesia since childhood and had no ties to Singapore. However, the judge noted that Yao had retained his Singapore citizenship and benefited from it, including holding a Singapore passport.
The case highlights Singapore's strict enforcement of NS laws, with penalties including fines and imprisonment for those who fail to report for duty.
