Deserter gets suspended jail sentence after 16 years away from Taiwan

​TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – A man who lived in the United States for 16 years to avoid serving in the military received a six-month prison sentence suspended for two years, reports said Thursday.

The Taoyuan District Court said it would allow the man, named Pan (潘), to pay a fine of NT$300,000 (US$9,100) if he also performed 240 hours of community service. He left Taiwan for the US in September 2008, but failed to return in time to start serving in the military in November of that year.

Taoyuan City Government sent notices to his residence in the city twice during the following year, but Pan never reported back. He did not return to Taiwan until July 31, 2024, using a US passport.

In its verdict, Taoyuan District Court said Pan, now 37, was well aware of the need to report for military duty. His actions damaged the fairness of the conscription system and the mobilization capabilities of the military, the court said.

However, the judge also took into account that Pan admitted his misdeeds and gave himself up to a police station in Kaohsiung.