Crazy Rich Asians author Kevin Kwan wanted in Singapore for dodging mandatory national service
The film had its Singapore premiere on Tuesday, with some of its stars gracing the red carpet and hundreds of fans turning out – but Kwan was conspicuous by his absence
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 Singapore citizen, faces up to three years in jail and a hefty fine if convicted, the city state’s defence ministry said.
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The movie adaptation of his bestseller, which focuses on the glamorous world of Singapore’s super-rich, was released in the United States 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 and hundreds of fans turning out – but Kwan was conspicuous by his absence, Singapore’s Straits Times newspaper reported.
And in a twist worthy of a Hollywood thriller, 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”.
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“He also stayed overseas without a valid exit permit,” it said.