All able bodied Singapore males were thoroughly riled by the news of the piano player who escaped his NS obligation by paying off Mindef with a mere S$5,000. Now, thanks to investigative reporting reminiscent of the NKF expose, we learn that the sum was not even the maximum fine, but only $3,000! No wonder the pianist declined to remember how much he paid. And to add insult to injury, the official "punishment" was phrased thus: "fined $3,000 in lieu of one month's imprisonment", meaning he was supposed to serve jail time, but was allowed a "compostion fine". As motorists are aware, composition fines are a rarity nowadays even for traffic offences. We are also told that the $30,000 bond put up by his parents was forfeited - meaning his sent his son off knowing very well he was supposed to come back to serve NS. The value of the bond is supposed to be the combined annual income of both working parents - how did his parents manage to send him to study overseas when their combined income was barely $3,000 a month? Eat ikan bilis with soya sauce every day? So what's the special "quanxi" this traitor has with the MIW? Maybe we can get a glimpse of his benefactor at the 21st Dec concert at the Esplanade.
