Desertion would surely resonate as a very tempting aspect to some, considering how National Service, for the most part, takes up two years during what’s arguably our prime.
But like all mandatory obligations, flouting enlistment comes with a very serious set of rules. Which surely begets the question;
Is it truly worth dodging enlistment for a few years of respite, when the consequences are so…
Dire in nature?
NSF Went AWOL For Years & Pretended to be His Twin To Work as a Delivery Driver
According to Channel News Asia, a man who had forsaken his National Service (NS) duties for years and utilised his twin’s driving license to get a job as a delivery driver has been charged in court, after being discovered at a roadblock.
The offender, 25-year-old Muhammed Syahidy Abdul Kaha, was sentenced to 20 months and 22 days’ jail, a fine of S$600 and a year’s driving ban.
According to the news report, he was from the 135th intake of full-time civil defence national servicemen that enlisted in March 2015.
He reportedly failed to report for duty on 26 June 2018 without a valid reason or medical exemption.
While he was ‘siam-ing’ NS duties, Syahidy signed up as a delivery driver in December 2019, despite not possessing a driving license.
To get the position, he reportedly sent a photo of his twin brother’s driving license to the employer.
His ruse worked, and he was hired the next day. He was also given a car to do deliveries.
Deserting A Second Time
At around 3:40 a.m. on 6 Feb this year, Syahidy was driving along Republic Boulevard towards East Coast Parkway when he was halted at a police roadblock.
When an officer approached him, he claimed that he did not have any form of identification with him.
The ruse failed, and he provided two NRIC numbers, which were screened and ascertained to be invalid.
Syahidy also gave a false name and alleged that he had forgotten his government-issued identification number when the officer warned him against falsifying personal information.
He finally gave in after further probing and gave his real name and NRIC number. It was then that he was found to be driving without a license or legitimate insurance policy.
He was also sought after by the Singapore Civil Defence Force for desertion.
Later on, Syahidy was released on bail and commanded to resume his national service, but he failed to turn up for duty on 24 Feb.
After attending court on 20 March, his bail was revoked.
Measures
According to Channel News Asia, Syahidy could have faced even more dire consequences for his actions.
For failing to report for NS, with an intention to remain permanently absent without leave, Syahidy could have been sent behind bars for up to 10 years.
For cheating by personification, he could have been imprisoned for up to five years, fined, or both.
For steering the wheel without a legitimate license, he could have faced a jail term of up to three years, fine of up to S$10,000, or both.
For driving without a valid insurance policy, he could have faced a jail term of up to three months, fine of up to S$1,000, or both.
And to think that he could have avoided it all if he had just complied with the law. Now, I can’t be sure whether there are any underlying reasons behind his absence, but in the end…
A prison sentence simply isn’t a good trade-off, no matter how you see it.
Here’s a simplified summary of the South Korea martial law that even a 5-year-old would understand:
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