http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100901-0000065/Dutiful-son-told--NS-comes-first
'Dutiful son' told: NS comes first
05:55 AM Sep 01, 2010
SINGAPORE - For five years, Goh Khim Song evaded National Service (NS). And when he was caught, he was fined $3,000.
But the prosecution said the sentence was too light.
In the High Court yesterday, Justice V K Rajah agreed and jailed Goh, 28, for four months.
Goh, a supervisor with a courier company, had registered for NS on Oct 2, 2002. He then applied for a deferment to study in a polytechnic but dropped out.
On Aug 1, 2005, officers from the Central Manpower Base (CMPB) gave a reporting order to Goh's mother. Goh was supposed to report to CMPB for a medical checkup two days later but he did not turn up.
Officers continued visiting Goh's flat between 2005 and last year, and even tried to ambush him there, without success. Police arrested him on April 26 this year. MediaCorp understands he had surrendered.
He pleaded guilty on June 2 and was fined $3,000. But in the High Court yesterday, Deputy Public Prosecutor Eugene Lee told Justice Rajah that a fine was "grossly and manifestly inadequate" and asked for a jail sentence instead.
Goh claimed he was not aware of the order or of the officers' visits and that he did not try to escape.
Goh said he had to support his mother, who was ill and unable to work, and a 25-year-old brother who is studying at a local university. He had intended to serve his NS after his only sibling was able to support their mother in his place.
Justice Rajah said that while Goh "may have been a dutiful son", NS obligations had the highest priority, ahead of studies and personal matters. Goh was ordered to report for NS immediately after his release from prison. Shaffiq Alkhatib
'Dutiful son' told: NS comes first
05:55 AM Sep 01, 2010
SINGAPORE - For five years, Goh Khim Song evaded National Service (NS). And when he was caught, he was fined $3,000.
But the prosecution said the sentence was too light.
In the High Court yesterday, Justice V K Rajah agreed and jailed Goh, 28, for four months.
Goh, a supervisor with a courier company, had registered for NS on Oct 2, 2002. He then applied for a deferment to study in a polytechnic but dropped out.
On Aug 1, 2005, officers from the Central Manpower Base (CMPB) gave a reporting order to Goh's mother. Goh was supposed to report to CMPB for a medical checkup two days later but he did not turn up.
Officers continued visiting Goh's flat between 2005 and last year, and even tried to ambush him there, without success. Police arrested him on April 26 this year. MediaCorp understands he had surrendered.
He pleaded guilty on June 2 and was fined $3,000. But in the High Court yesterday, Deputy Public Prosecutor Eugene Lee told Justice Rajah that a fine was "grossly and manifestly inadequate" and asked for a jail sentence instead.
Goh claimed he was not aware of the order or of the officers' visits and that he did not try to escape.
Goh said he had to support his mother, who was ill and unable to work, and a 25-year-old brother who is studying at a local university. He had intended to serve his NS after his only sibling was able to support their mother in his place.
Justice Rajah said that while Goh "may have been a dutiful son", NS obligations had the highest priority, ahead of studies and personal matters. Goh was ordered to report for NS immediately after his release from prison. Shaffiq Alkhatib
