[News] Longer detention for doctor who went AWOL

[runicz]

He was one month away from completing his national service when he left Singapore without permission to pursue his medical studies at the University of Cambridge in Britain.

Wang Yinchu, then 22, left Singapore on Oct 8, 2008 and returned only almost six years later.

When he returned to Singapore on July 2 last year, he gave himself up to Immigration & Checkpoints Authority officers and was later transferred to the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Military Police Command.

On Oct 8 last year, he pleaded guilty to one count of being absent without official leave (AWOL) and was sentenced to three weeks’ detention.

But, the chief military prosecutor appealed against this sentence in the military court of appeal on May 29 and urged a stiffer sentence.

Justice Choo Han Teck and four other members of the panel extended Wang’s detention period to 18 months.

In the submissions, military prosecutor Hee Mee Lin told the court that Wang, now 29, was serving with the 41st Battalion of the Singapore Armoured Regiment at Kranji Camp 2.

On Oct 12, 2008, he was due to book back into camp for duties at around 11.59pm, but he failed to do so.

When his superiors noticed his absence, the unit made multiple attempts to contact him on his mobile phone, but the calls went unanswered.

The prosecution added that Wang contacted Mindef via its feedback unit years later to say he wanted to contact his commanding officer as he wanted to surrender himself. Ms Hee said Wang had gone AWOL for five years, eight months and 20 days and pressed for at least 18 months’ detention.

Calling the three-weeks detention "manifestly inadequate", she said it could send a message that full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) would “suffer little consequences” when they go AWOL.

An earlier case was also cited where an NSF from the Singapore Civil Defence Force went AWOL for three years, two months and nine days and was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment.

In that case, the High Court also affirmed the sentence and emphasised the need for deterrence, saying: "National Service is about one’s duty to the country, and about placing the nation’s interests above one’s own.

"It would be unfair to all national servicemen who diligently perform their national service at a personal sacrifice to themselves and their families if the appellant’s contention was accepted as a valid mitigating factor."

The prosecution added that "the public interest involved in National Service required that servicemen be prepared to subordinate their personal interests to the interests of the state".

Wang’s lawyer, Mr Anand Nalachandran, urged the court to dismiss the appeal, saying that his client has "repaid the... pound of flesh".

Wang came to Singapore from China in 1996 and started at Primary 2 when he was 10. After that, he went to The Chinese High School where he displayed "outstanding academic ability and demonstrated sportsmanship, integrity... and good sense".

At Hwa Chong Institution, Wang was an outstanding student who excelled in the Biology Olympiad and wushu.

He became a citizen in 2005 when he was 19 and later entered NS.

Mr Anand said references from people such as his former seniors in his unit "all attest to his attitude, character, dedication, diligence and professionalism".

Before he left for England, he had applied to Mindef for a disruption of the remaining one month of service, but this request was denied. Wang then made appeals within the SAF and through his MP, but these were rejected.

NO GUARANTEE

Mr Anand added: "(Wang) asked the university for permission to matriculate later. However, the university advised him to reapply for entry the following year with no guarantee of admission.

"(Wang) was driven by the lifelong ambition to become a doctor and was desperate to retain the rare and coveted opportunity to study medicine at Cambridge."

The lawyer said that his client then made "a desperate decision that few would endorse but many would understand" and left Singapore.

Wang later obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from St Edmund’s College, University of Cambridge.

He also obtained a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree from Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary, University of London before returning to Singapore.

After completing his earlier sentence in October last year, Wang has volunteered at agencies such as the Alzheimer’s Disease Association and the Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association, said Mr Anand.

The lawyer also said that Wang was an outstanding soldier "that his superiors and colleagues vouch for even in the present circumstances".

Justice Choo said the panel agreed that Wang has an exemplary record. But they also took into consideration the period of AWOL and the period of service left before sentencing him.

Responding to queries from The New Paper, Mindef said that AWOL is a serious offence: "We will continue to take stern disciplinary action against servicemen who commit AWOL offences."

Those convicted of AWOL can be imprisoned for up to two years.

Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/news/si...onger-detention-doctor-who-went-awol-20150616

Calling the three-weeks detention "manifestly inadequate", she said it could send a message that full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) would “suffer little consequences” when they go AWOL.

#feminist #women #malehaters. sigh
Nice job, they even made effort to mask the woman's name.

 

[runicz]

Why government dont allow people with 1 month left to disrupt for studies. sibei *******.

18 months detention for awol is justified. it cannot and must not be changed.

Cus not local uni. nt sure cus ididnt disrupt*

 

[Nalgene123]

Why government dont allow people with 1 month left to disrupt for studies. sibei *******.

18 months detention for awol is justified. it cannot and must not be changed.

it's actually not the government's problem......disruption depends on the discretion of the unit's CO..so ultimately, it depends on whether your NS boss want to recommend you for disruption....unless your boss really something against you..those in unit should be able to disrupt since most of the training would have already ended a couple of months before the unit ORD...

 

[mgsten]

it's actually not the government's problem......disruption depends on the discretion of the unit's CO..so ultimately, it depends on whether your NS boss want to recommend you for disruption....unless your boss really something against you..those in unit should be able to disrupt since most of the training would have already ended a couple of months before the unit ORD...

co ** lor. or the guy ch his co.

 

[greenbubble]

**** lah! This fellow only left one month to complete his slavery... service. He had made effort to apply for disruption. It is too much to expect him to sacrifice the chance to study in Cambridge just to finish this one month. Minded should be more flexible. Now we are facing intense competition from FT, don't handicap or be burden to our NSF, instead help them to achieve their personal goal. Then the people will serve NS more willingly.

 

[hachew]

I understand we as individuals need to sacrifice our personal interest and place national interest above individual's. But I was wondering, how much is enough? To what extend we have to sacrifice for the nation? Is there a limit to it?

In this case, this guy went through all proper channels to appeal, but he was cornered to a situation where he had no other options? By delaying enrollment, his life could have been totally a different story. Is the country going to make up for his loss in anyway?

And Public Service Commission (PSC) Scholarships holders are granted deferment. (source)
So why is PSC scholars allowed to defer, but others are not allowed? Some time i really wonder is it some form of discrimination? Elitism?

 

[Angmoh_TuaKi]

**** lah! This fellow only left one month to complete his slavery... service. He had made effort to apply for disruption. It is too much to expect him to sacrifice the chance to study in Cambridge just to finish this one month. Minded should be more flexible. Now we are facing intense competition from FT, don't handicap or be burden to our NSF, instead help them to achieve their personal goal. Then the people will serve NS more willingly.

Lets get this clear NS duty is self-conferred to govt as social contract, not preordain by govt.

We must vote this dogs out asap. Sickening power abuser.

 

[ILubKopiHowBoutChiu]

Law is constructed to service people, there is no such thing as set in stone law. Law have to be adaptable according to the times. Not created to entrap ppl or must blindly follow law. Use some brains will u.

words of wisdom

**** the whole MINDEF legal department and hope HEE MEE LIN her WHOLE FAMILY DIE

 

[ILubKopiHowBoutChiu]

In this case, this guy went through all proper channels to appeal, but he was cornered to a situation where he had no other options? By delaying enrollment, his life could have been totally a different story. Is the country going to make up for his loss in anyway?

i can understand if his disruption was denied had SG been in a war situation. BUT IT WAS ******* PEACETIME.

 

[weiyang76]

Lets get this clear NS duty is self-conferred to govt as social contract, not preordain by govt.

We must vote this dogs out asap. Sickening power abuser.

This is excellent !

 

[allhomme]

The chief military prosecutor and and appeals judge better pry hard that 10 years down the road they better not end up on an operating table.

Sent from INO SCOUT 2 using GAGT

 

[spiderman108]

He was one month away from completing his national service when he left Singapore without permission to pursue his medical studies at the University of Cambridge in Britain.

Wang Yinchu, then 22, left Singapore on Oct 8, 2008 and returned only almost six years later.

When he returned to Singapore on July 2 last year, he gave himself up to Immigration & Checkpoints Authority officers and was later transferred to the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Military Police Command.

On Oct 8 last year, he pleaded guilty to one count of being absent without official leave (AWOL) and was sentenced to three weeks’ detention.

But, the chief military prosecutor appealed against this sentence in the military court of appeal on May 29 and urged a stiffer sentence.

Justice Choo Han Teck and four other members of the panel extended Wang’s detention period to 18 months.

In the submissions, military prosecutor Hee Mee Lin told the court that Wang, now 29, was serving with the 41st Battalion of the Singapore Armoured Regiment at Kranji Camp 2.

On Oct 12, 2008, he was due to book back into camp for duties at around 11.59pm, but he failed to do so.

When his superiors noticed his absence, the unit made multiple attempts to contact him on his mobile phone, but the calls went unanswered.

The prosecution added that Wang contacted Mindef via its feedback unit years later to say he wanted to contact his commanding officer as he wanted to surrender himself. Ms Hee said Wang had gone AWOL for five years, eight months and 20 days and pressed for at least 18 months’ detention.

Calling the three-weeks detention "manifestly inadequate", she said it could send a message that full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) would “suffer little consequences” when they go AWOL.

An earlier case was also cited where an NSF from the Singapore Civil Defence Force went AWOL for three years, two months and nine days and was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment.

In that case, the High Court also affirmed the sentence and emphasised the need for deterrence, saying: "National Service is about one’s duty to the country, and about placing the nation’s interests above one’s own.

"It would be unfair to all national servicemen who diligently perform their national service at a personal sacrifice to themselves and their families if the appellant’s contention was accepted as a valid mitigating factor."

The prosecution added that "the public interest involved in National Service required that servicemen be prepared to subordinate their personal interests to the interests of the state".

Wang’s lawyer, Mr Anand Nalachandran, urged the court to dismiss the appeal, saying that his client has "repaid the... pound of flesh".

Wang came to Singapore from China in 1996 and started at Primary 2 when he was 10. After that, he went to The Chinese High School where he displayed "outstanding academic ability and demonstrated sportsmanship, integrity... and good sense".

At Hwa Chong Institution, Wang was an outstanding student who excelled in the Biology Olympiad and wushu.

He became a citizen in 2005 when he was 19 and later entered NS.

Mr Anand said references from people such as his former seniors in his unit "all attest to his attitude, character, dedication, diligence and professionalism".

Before he left for England, he had applied to Mindef for a disruption of the remaining one month of service, but this request was denied. Wang then made appeals within the SAF and through his MP, but these were rejected.

NO GUARANTEE

Mr Anand added: "(Wang) asked the university for permission to matriculate later. However, the university advised him to reapply for entry the following year with no guarantee of admission.

"(Wang) was driven by the lifelong ambition to become a doctor and was desperate to retain the rare and coveted opportunity to study medicine at Cambridge."

The lawyer said that his client then made "a desperate decision that few would endorse but many would understand" and left Singapore.

Wang later obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from St Edmund’s College, University of Cambridge.

He also obtained a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree from Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary, University of London before returning to Singapore.

After completing his earlier sentence in October last year, Wang has volunteered at agencies such as the Alzheimer’s Disease Association and the Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association, said Mr Anand.

The lawyer also said that Wang was an outstanding soldier "that his superiors and colleagues vouch for even in the present circumstances".

Justice Choo said the panel agreed that Wang has an exemplary record. But they also took into consideration the period of AWOL and the period of service left before sentencing him.

Responding to queries from The New Paper, Mindef said that AWOL is a serious offence: "We will continue to take stern disciplinary action against servicemen who commit AWOL offences."

Those convicted of AWOL can be imprisoned for up to two years.

Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/news/si...onger-detention-doctor-who-went-awol-20150616

You are right is too light shall be 2 years for not serving our nation. Hope everyone will notice what you post.

 

[spiderman108]

Lets get this clear NS duty is self-conferred to govt as social contract, not preordain by govt.

We must vote this dogs out asap. Sickening power abuser.

Make this clear, your house mom and sister is not protected if everyone think like you. Do you know that Kuwait is just a walk over for their neighbours? Now you are very safe taking thing for granted but your friendly neighbours are eyeing your house mom sister.