Fans of the best-selling novel “Crazy Rich Asians” are flocking to different cinemas all over the world to watch its highly anticipated film adaptation which hit theaters earlier this week.
However, the book’s author Kevin Kwan found himself in hot water amid the excitement that his book’s film has received.
It was reported that Kwan is now wanted in Singapore for draft dodging after he has been accused of avoiding the country’s compulsory military service, reported Variety Magazine.
Singapore’s ministry of defense released a statement on Wednesday saying that the “Crazy Rich Asians” author “failed to register for National Service (NS) in 1990, despite notices and letters sent to his overseas address.”
Kwan moved to the United States when he was only 11 years old, but remained to be a Singaporean citizen.
Male citizens of Singapore are required to undergo two years of National Service upon reaching the age of 18. Depending on physical and medical fitness, they must serve either in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), Singapore Police Force (SPF), or Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).
The statement further said that Kwan also stayed overseas without a valid exit permit.
“Mr. Kwan is therefore wanted for defaulting on his NS obligations. In 1994, his application and subsequent appeal to renounce his Singapore citizenship without serving NS were rejected,” the statement read.
Due to the offences he committed, Kwan could face up to three years in prison and a fine worth SGD10,000 or approximately P390,000.
Kwan has yet to release his own statement regarding the issue.
