SINGAPORE - Home-grown YouTube star and Ah Boys To Men actor Noah Yap was jailed for nine months in Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) detention barracks on Wednesday (March 2) for the consumption of cannabis.
Yap, 22, a full-time national serviceman holding the rank of lance-corporal, has been put behind bars in the army's equivalent of prison. Enlisted in May 2014, he was part of the SAF Music and Drama Company at the time of the offences.
Responding to media queries, the Defence Ministry confirmed that Yap was found guilty under Section 8(b)(ii) of the Misuse of Drugs Act.
A spokesman said: "The Singapore Armed Forces adopts a zero-tolerance approach towards drug abuse. Servicemen found abusing drugs will be disciplined and rehabilitated."
Cannabis is also commonly known as marijuana.
Yap was sentenced at the SAF Court Martial Centre. If found guilty, first-time offenders can be jailed between nine and 15 months. Repeat offenders can be jailed and caned.
Yap rose to fame as I.P. Man in the home-grown director Jack Neo's series of movies about the military: Ah Boys To Men 1 and 2 and in The Lion Men. He is represented by Fly Entertainment.
When contacted, Fly Entertainment said that they have not been able to contact Noah and are trying to get in touch with his family.
Statistics released in February by the Central Narcotics Bureau said that new drug users arrested last year were aged below 30 and that among first-timers, cannabis has become the second most abuse drugs.
