Granted Singapore permanent residency at age 11, a Chinese national left the country at 17 without registering for mandatory military service, and subsequently failed to return as required by the authorities. As a result, he was stripped of his permanent residency and was arrested upon re-entering Singapore last year.
According to Shin Min Daily News, the accused, You Jiahao (23, transliteration) from China, faced four charges under the Enlistment Act for evading national service. On the 25th, he admitted to two of the charges and was fined 9,000 Singapore dollars.
Court records show that the accused obtained Singapore permanent residency at age 11 and attended secondary school locally. In March 2016, his family received a Notification of Exit Permit letter, which stated that from May 2016, when he turned 13, he must comply with the regulations pertaining to exit permits.
The accused left Singapore on August 26, 2020. On April 8, 2021, the authorities sent a notice to his residence, requiring him to register for national service on the official website by May 31, 2021. However, he did not do so.
After discovering he had left Singapore, the authorities issued an emergency notice in August 2021. On July 13, 2022, the accused contacted the Ministry of Manpower via email to apply for a renewal of his re-entry permit. He admitted that he was obligated to return to Singapore for military service but requested a deferment until after he graduated in China.
The authorities replied that he had already violated the Enlistment Act, having not only failed to register for national service, but also left the country without an exit permit. They instructed him to return to Singapore and report in. However, the accused did not do so, and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority subsequently revoked his permanent residency on August 1, 2022.
The accused later attempted to enter Singapore on March 27 last year and was arrested at Changi Airport.
Court records show that the accused obtained Singapore permanent residency at age 11 and attended secondary school locally. In March 2016, his family received a Notification of Exit Permit letter, which stated that from May 2016, when he turned 13, he must comply with the regulations pertaining to exit permits.
The accused left Singapore on August 26, 2020. On April 8, 2021, the authorities sent a notice to his residence, requiring him to register for national service on the official website by May 31, 2021. However, he did not do so.
After discovering he had left Singapore, the authorities issued an emergency notice in August 2021. On July 13, 2022, the accused contacted the Ministry of Manpower via email to apply for a renewal of his re-entry permit. He admitted that he was obligated to return to Singapore for military service but requested a deferment until after he graduated in China.
The authorities replied that he had already violated the Enlistment Act, having not only failed to register for national service, but also left the country without an exit permit. They instructed him to return to Singapore and report in. However, the accused did not do so, and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority subsequently revoked his permanent residency on August 1, 2022.
The accused later attempted to enter Singapore on March 27 last year and was arrested at Changi Airport.