5 SCDF personnel to be charged over NSF's death, 8 others referred for departmental investigations

Five Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) personnel will be charged in court on Wednesday (July 25) over the death of full-time National Serviceman (NSF), Corporal Kok Yuen Chin, that occurred at Tuas View Fire Station on May 13.

The five officers are Mohammad Nur Fatwa Mahmood, 33; Mohamed Farid Mohamed Saleh, 34; Kenneth Chong Chee Boon, 37; Nazhan Mohamed Nazi, 40; and Adighazali Suhaimi, 32.

Staff Sergeant Mohammad Nur Fatwa will be charged for a rash act causing death and for abetting the obstruction of the course of justice by instigation.

First Warrant Officer Mohamed Farid will be charged for abetting a rash act causing death.

Lieutenant Chong and First Senior Warrant officer Nazhan will each be charged for abetting a rash act causing grievous hurt by illegal omission.

Staff sergeant Adighazali will be charged for intentionally obstructing the course of justice.

The police also referred eight other officers who were present during the incident to the SCDF for departmental investigations.

In response to media queries, the SCDF confirmed on Wednesday that the police had referred eight SCDF officers for departmental investigation.

Six of them are regular officers and two are NSFs.

Under the Civil Defence Act, should investigations reveal that they had violated SCDF rules and regulations, the regular officers will face public service disciplinary actions, which may include dismissal from service or demotion in rank, and the NSFs will be liable for detention and/or demotion in rank.

On May 13, 22-year-old CPL Kok Yuen Chin died after he was found unconscious inside a pump well at Tuas view Fire Station.

To celebrate the end of his conscription that was in two days, the Singapore permanent resident was made to enter a 12m-deep pump well, and was later found unconscious.

Two SCDF personnel - a Warrant Officer 1 and a Staff Sergeant - were arrested following Cpl Kok's death and were also suspended from service on half-pay pending the outcome of police investigations. The duo were colleagues of Cpl Kok who shared the same shift duty at the station.

Subsequently, four more officers were also under investigation and had their promotions withheld, said the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

The SCDF also announced enhanced measures against ragging and unauthorised initiation activities following the death of Cpl Kok, including the Whistle Blowing Programme and the installation of a metal grating across the opening of the pump well.