Indian-Origin Man Jailed For 6 Weeks In Singapore

SINGAPORE:  An Indian-origin man in Singapore was sentenced to six weeks in prison for not performing his national service obligations.

Jay Kamal Shah, 22, was handed out the punishment yesterday for not performing the National Service, a statutory requirement for all male Singaporeans to serve in the defence service for two-years, The Straits Times reported today.

He completed his studies in India and returned to Singapore in April last year and enlisted for national service about a month later.

Shah could have been fined up to 10,000 Singapore dollar (USD 7,206) and/or jailed for up to three years, was jailed for six weeks.

His lawyer Rajan Supramaniam said in litigation that Mr Shah chose to wait until he had completed his examinations



before returning to Singapore to surrender himself so that he would not be considered a "drop-out".

Requesting the court to impose a fine, counsel said Mr Shah had done well in national service, and may be considering a career in the army.

He also said Mr Shah did not have the benefits and privileges of possessing a Singapore citizenship, having spent his entire life in India.

Earlier, he was also given a one-week concurrent jail term for failing to enlist for national service in March last year.

His Singaporean mother had tried to apply for his national service deferment but that was rejected.

She had also e-mailed the authorities that she wished to renounce her son's Singapore citizenship.