He was born and raised in Thailand, and graduated from Thammasat University Bangkok. Ekawit Tangtrakarn, a 24-year-old Thai national whose mother is Singaporean and whose father is Thai, even served three years in the Royal Thai Army.
But on Tuesday (28 August), Ekawit, who was also a Singapore citizen until he was 22, pleaded guilty to one count of remaining outside the Republic without a valid exit permit between 17 April 2010 and 16 October 2015 in the Singapore State Courts. Ekawit’s actions are a breach of the Enlistment Act.
Another charge under the same section, but relating to the period between 17 October 2006 and 16 April 2010, was taken into consideration for his sentencing.
This is the first case of its kind where a National Service defaulter coming back to face charges was not liable for NS at the time of the charge, as by then he was no longer a Singapore citizen or permanent resident, according to the prosecution.
The charge comes about because Ekawit did not fulfil his National Service obligations, even though he ceased to be a Singapore citizen in 2015. Ekawit was registered as a Singaporean citizen by his mother when he was one even though the family had moved to Thailand before he was born.
Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Mansoor Amir asked the court for a sentence of nine weeks for Ekawit, as a key sentencing consideration is general deterrence for this and all NS defaulter cases.
The accused only returned to Singapore when he was no longer liable to serve since he is no longer a Singapore citizen, said the DPP. After being classified as an NS defaulter, he was advised on two occasions to return, but chose to pursue his university studies instead.
DPP Mansoor noted that while the usual sentence should have been 14 weeks, the prosecution was willing to give Ekawit a five week “discount” as he had voluntarily surrendered himself.
More at https://sg.news.yahoo.com/thai-citi...guilty-defaulting-ns-singapore-032602325.html
But on Tuesday (28 August), Ekawit, who was also a Singapore citizen until he was 22, pleaded guilty to one count of remaining outside the Republic without a valid exit permit between 17 April 2010 and 16 October 2015 in the Singapore State Courts. Ekawit’s actions are a breach of the Enlistment Act.
Another charge under the same section, but relating to the period between 17 October 2006 and 16 April 2010, was taken into consideration for his sentencing.
This is the first case of its kind where a National Service defaulter coming back to face charges was not liable for NS at the time of the charge, as by then he was no longer a Singapore citizen or permanent resident, according to the prosecution.
The charge comes about because Ekawit did not fulfil his National Service obligations, even though he ceased to be a Singapore citizen in 2015. Ekawit was registered as a Singaporean citizen by his mother when he was one even though the family had moved to Thailand before he was born.
Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Mansoor Amir asked the court for a sentence of nine weeks for Ekawit, as a key sentencing consideration is general deterrence for this and all NS defaulter cases.
The accused only returned to Singapore when he was no longer liable to serve since he is no longer a Singapore citizen, said the DPP. After being classified as an NS defaulter, he was advised on two occasions to return, but chose to pursue his university studies instead.
DPP Mansoor noted that while the usual sentence should have been 14 weeks, the prosecution was willing to give Ekawit a five week “discount” as he had voluntarily surrendered himself.
More at https://sg.news.yahoo.com/thai-citi...guilty-defaulting-ns-singapore-032602325.html
