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SINGAPORE: Six members of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) were fined by a military court for the death of Corporal First Class (CFC) Dave Lee, the Ministry of Defense (MINDEF) said on Thursday (24 September).
First Sergeant (1SG) Chia Zhi Xuan was found guilty of one count of disobedience to general orders under Article 21 of the SAF Law. He was fined 2,500 Singaporean dollars.
Second Sergeant (2SG) Koh Ren Zhong was found guilty of one count of negligent performance of a legal duty under section 17 (2) of the SAF Act. He was fined 1,800 Singaporean dollars.
Corporal (NS) Tan Jin Yang was found guilty of two counts of life-threatening negligent acts under Section 41 (b) of the SAF Act. He was fined S $ 4,500 for both charges.
CPL (NS) Chng Pheng Heng, CPL (NS) Jonas Ang Kai Jie and CPL (NS) Yep Ren Jie were each convicted of one count of disobedience to general orders under Section 21 of the SAF Act and one count of abuse authority under Section 29 of the SAF Act. Each was fined Singaporean $ 2,500 and demoted to the rank of third sergeant (3SG).
CFC Lee died at the age of 19 in April 2018, after suffering heatstroke after a fast 8 km march in the Bedok camp.
The six servicemen were indicted in a military court on February 20 this year following investigations by the SAF’s Special Investigation Branch into possible breaches of military law surrounding the events related to the death of CFC Lee.
All six soldiers had pleaded guilty, MINDEF said.
READ: 6 SAF servicemen indicted in military court for the death of NSF Dave Lee
The military who have been sentenced:
– 1SG Chia, 25, was the chief officer who made “unauthorized deviations from the lesson plan for a training the day before the rapid march,” MINDEF said. He faced a charge of disobedience to general orders under section 21 of the SAF Act.
– 2SG Koh, 26, was the security officer for the fast march. He was charged with a negligent act that endangered life under Section 41 (b) of the SAF Act.
– CPL (NS) Tan, 24, was the fast-walking doctor. He faced two counts of life-threatening negligent acts under Section 41 (b) of the SAF Act.
– 3SG (NS) Chng, 22; 3SG (NS) Ang, 24 and 3SG (NS) Yes, 22, were all section commanders who “carried out the unauthorized punishment the day before the rapid march.”
Each of them faced three charges: two charges for disobedience of general orders under Section 21 of the SAF Act and one charge for abuse of authority under Section 29 of the SAF Act.
LEE: Family, friends say goodbye to national soldier Dave Lee
In February 2020, a SAF captain who was charged in 2018 with causing the death of the NSF by reckless act was awarded a discharge that does not amount to an acquittal.
Captain Tan Baoshu, 31, was the supervising officer for the fast march and was charged with failing to evacuate CFC Lee in a timely manner. He was also charged with failing to allow CFC Lee to be given the necessary treatment, resulting in the latter’s death from heat stroke.
A spokesman for the Attorney General’s Office (AGC) said that the discharge did not amount to an acquittal, it meant that the prosecution would stop pursuing the charge, but did not mean that the accused would be acquitted.
The AGC spokesperson told CNA that CPT Tan was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. CPT Tan died on February 13.
READ: Death of NSF Dave Lee: IOC highlights inadequate casualty management, delayed evacuation as factors
Since the 2018 incident, the SAF has improved its heat injury prevention and management measures, including simplifying the evacuation protocol, increasing awareness of heat injuries for commanders and medics, and strengthening a open reporting culture.
“In the past two years, the SAF has seen a 40 percent decrease in the number of heat injury cases and there have been no heat stroke cases,” MINDEF said Thursday.
“MINDEF / SAF will continue to review and identify ways to strengthen our training and security management system, with the goal of achieving zero deaths from training.”
