Amos Yee was remanded in Changi Prison on March 20 after being charged under the Enlistment Act, just one day after his deportation from the United States.
According to ST, the 27-year-old appeared in court via video link at about 11.50am. He was seen with long hair and dressed in a black long-sleeved shirt. The prosecution applied for him to be held in remand for further investigations, which the court granted. No bail was offered, and Yee told the court he would not be engaging a lawyer.
His case has been adjourned to March 26.
Alleged NS Violations Spanning Nearly a Decade
Court documents show that Yee faces multiple charges related to evading Singapore’s mandatory national service (NS) obligations.
He is accused of leaving Singapore without a valid exit permit from Dec 15, 2016, to March 19, 2026 — a period of more than nine years. A separate charge alleges he remained overseas without a permit from Dec 13, 2015, to April 19, 2016.
In addition, Yee allegedly failed to report for pre-enlistment medical screening from April 26, 2016, through March 19, 2026.
Under the Enlistment Act, offenders can be fined up to $10,000, jailed for up to three years, or both.
Deported After Time in US Custody
Yee was deported from the United States on March 19 after spending months in immigration custody. He had been detained since November 2025, shortly after his release from an American prison.
Prior to his deportation, he was transferred between several detention facilities across different states, including Wisconsin, Indiana and Illinois. He was last held at a staging facility near Chicago before being removed from the country.
Reports indicate he signed deportation papers in February, paving the way for his return to Singapore.
Criminal Conviction in the United States
Yee had been granted asylum in the United States in 2018 after leaving Singapore in 2016 following a series of legal disputes over his controversial online posts.
In 2021, he was convicted in Illinois for solicitation and possession of child pornography. The case involved him exchanging explicit images and messages with a 14-year-old girl while he was in Chicago.
He was sentenced to six years in prison on Dec 2, 2021, but was released on parole on Oct 7, 2023. He was re-arrested the following month, reportedly for breaching parole conditions.
Those conditions included restrictions on internet use and limits on being near places frequented by minors without prior approval.
Return and Legal Proceedings in Singapore
Singapore’s Ministry of Defence had previously stated that Yee would be charged under the Enlistment Act if he returned to the country.
His prolonged absence without a valid exit permit and failure to report for national service obligations form the basis of the current charges.
Now back in Singapore and in custody, Yee faces further legal proceedings that could result in additional jail time.
The case will resume on March 26.
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