res.wasNull() troubles when using CASE?

I have the following query which seems to be having trouble with
ResultSet.wasNull():

String sql = "select case when date_sent is not null then
to_char(date_sent::timestamp, 'YY-mm-DD HH:MI') else null end as
date_sent from invoice_emails where invoice_id='" + id + "' order by
date_sent";

String s;
ResultSet res = db.queryDB(sql);
try {
while (res.next()) {
if (res.wasNull()) {
s = new String("Pending");
dates.add(s);
}
else {
s = res.getString("date_sent");
dates.add(s);
}
}
System.out.println(s);
}
catch (SQLException e) {System.out.println("ERROR");}

When the returned value is null, the if (res.wasNull()) clause does not
get executed ... but the value truly was null since when I print String
s it is null.

I tried the same query using the command line and it does return null
when the date_sent column is null ... the JDBC driver however doesn't
seem to realize this ...

I'm sure it's my fault though. Can someone tell me where I went wrong?

Thanks!

Jc