Author ‘dodged draft’

The author of Crazy Rich Asians, which has been adapted into a hit Hollywood movie, is wanted in his native Singapore for allegedly dodging mandatory national service, authorities said on Wednesday.

Kevin Kwan, who has lived in the US since he was 11 but is still a Singaporean citizen, faces up to three years in jail and a hefty fine if convicted, the citystate’s defence ministry said.

The movie adaptation of his bestseller, which focuses on the glamorous world of Singapore’s super-rich, was released in the US last week and has been hailed as a watershed for Hollywood diversity due to its mostly Asian cast.

The film had its Singapore premiere on Tuesday, with some of its stars gracing the red carpet – but Kwan was conspicuous by his absence, Singapore’s Straits Times newspaper reported.

Singapore’s defence ministry revealed in a statement that Kwan “failed to register for national service in 1990, despite notices and letters sent to his overseas address.

“He also stayed overseas without a valid exit permit.”

The Singapore-American author had committed offences under the enlistment act and faced a fine and a prison term of up to three years if convicted, the ministry said.

Male Singapore citizens are required to do two years of national service on turning 18.

The defence ministry said Kwan had sought to renounce his Singapore citizenship in 1994, but his application and subsequent appeal had been rejected due to his failure to finish national service. –