A 47-year-old dual citizen of Singapore and Indonesia is facing a three-year jail sentence for failing to report for National Service in 1997. The prosecution argued that his dual citizenship was irrelevant, while his defence claimed serving would have forced him to forfeit his Indonesian citizenship. The judge ruled that the offence was one of strict liability, meaning intent did not need to be proven.
Caught for trespass, spared prosecution: DPP orders release of ‘joget’ teens at Muhibbah LRT tracks in Bukit OUG to spare their future National Service recruits demonstrate hand-to-hand combat moves as part of their two-month basic training on Pulau Tekong in Singapore on February 7, 2017.
— AFP pic! Plus, enjoy an additional FREE RM10 when you sign up using code VERSAMM10 with a min. cash-in of RM100 today. T&Cs apply. SINGAPORE, April 29 — The prosecution has demanded the maximum three-year jail sentence for a 47-year-old man with dual Singaporean and Indonesian citizenship who failed to report for National Service in 1997.
Born to a Singaporean mother and an Indonesian father, Yao was raised and educated in Singapore but also held an Indonesian passport. During his trial, Yao’s defence argued he believed he was bound by Indonesian law, which forbids citizens from serving in a foreign military. Serving NS, they claimed, would have meant forfeiting his Indonesian citizenship.
However, the judge rejected this, ruling that Yao was fully aware of his NS obligations. The offence was deemed one of “strict liability,” meaning intent did not need to be proven. In the sentencing hearing on Tuesday, the prosecution argued for the maximum penalty, saying Yao’s dual citizenship was irrelevant and that he showed “not one ounce of remorse.
” In response, defence lawyer Sunil Sudheesan argued that a jail term “totally disrespects this Indonesian citizen’s desire to keep his Indonesian citizenship” and, by extension, “disrespects Indonesia as well. ” He positioned the case as a unique dilemma, asking, “What was he to do? If he served, he would lose his Indonesian citizenship. How is that fair to him? ”
National Service Dual Citizenship Strict Liability Singapore Law Indonesian Citizenship
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