Defence Minister Ng on NS defaulters
SINGAPORE : Over the past three years, five National Service (NS) defaulters have been sentenced to jail by the court.
Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said this in a written parliamentary reply to MP Lim Biow Chuan on Monday.
Mr Lim wanted to know how many NS defaulters have been sentenced to imprisonment for defaulting NS over the past three years and whether all NS defaulters will be sentenced to imprisonment.
Dr Ng said to maintain equity of treatment and the commitment for all who have to serve their NS, it is necessary to take a tough stand against the few who default on their NS obligations.
He said the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) will press for a custodial sentence on the defaulter based on the length of default and a set of guidelines.
If the default period exceeds two years but the defaulter is young enough to serve his full-time and operationally ready NS (ORNS) duties in full, MINDEF will press for a short jail sentence.
If the defaulter has reached an age when he cannot serve his full-time NS in a combat vocation or fulfil his ORNS obligations in full, MINDEF will press for a longer jail sentence to reflect the period of NS evaded.
And if the defaulter has passed the age of 40 and cannot be called up for NS at all, MINDEF will press for a jail sentence up to the maximum of three years.
Dr Ng said the court decides on the sentence taking into consideration the circumstances of the individual case and the sentence MINDEF has pressed for.
After their punishments by the court, NS defaulters who are still NS-liable will have to serve NS.
From CNA
