NS evader sentenced to 1.5 months jail

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A 25-year-old who evaded National Service (NS) for more than six years to pursue his studies in Australia was sentenced to 1.5 months’ jail on Thursday (11 February), according to local media reports.

Brian Joseph Chow initially received a sentence of a $4,500 fine for his offence, before the prosecution appealed against his sentence.

According to a report by Todayonline, the 25-year-old left Singapore in 2005, at the age of 15, to study in a school that catered to his attention deficit disorder. He was called up for NS in 2008 and applied unsuccessfully for a deferral from NS for university.

In 2013, Chow graduated from the University of Western Australia and returned to Singapore, completing his NS in 2015. He is reportedly undergoing a cadet pilot program at ST Aerospace Academy.

Justice Chan Seng Oon said as part of his oral judgment on 11 February, “I would have given him three months if not for the fact that his performance during NS was outstanding.”

The defence’s request to defer sentencing was rejected, with the judge saying that enough time had been given.