31-year-old Iryadi Ariffin Mohd Hambal, was posted to the Singapore Civil Defence Force for his National Service back in July 2011, and he failed to report for his duty in July 2012.
He went AWOL (Absent Without Official Leave) for 9 years and 3 months before he surrendered himself in October last year.
Ariffin pleaded guilty on 30 December 2022 to one charge under the Civil Defence Act and told the court that he went AWOL because his mother was hospitalised and his family needed money at the time.
He said that he needed to raise funds and that the NS allowance was “a bit small”.
He was sentenced to 23 months imprisonment yesterday.
His parents actually advised him to turn himself in and he took their advice, adding that he didn’t want to run anymore and wished to “start life anew.”
Ariffin will begin his jail sentence on 27 January next year.