30-year-old Singapore Armed Forces captain Tan Baoshu was charged in court today for committing a rash act causing death, in relation to the death of full-time national serviceman Dave Lee Han Xuan.
If convicted, CPT Tan can be jailed for up to 5 years, fined, or both.
Police have referred 6 other SAF servicemen – 2 regular SAF officers and 4 NSFs – who were involved in Corporal First Class Lee’s death to MINDEF for investigation.
A MINDEF spokesman said:
“To prevent any prejudice arising from parallel proceedings, Mindef will defer its internal proceedings until after the conclusion of the criminal proceedings against CPT Tan. If Mindef’s internal investigations find that these six servicemen have committed military offences, they will be liable for punishments under the SAF Act. Punishments could range from a fine to detention and/or reduction in rank as well as administrative penalties.”
CFC Lee, a Guardsman from the 1st Battalion Singapore Guard, collapsed during an 8km fast march at Bedok Camp on 18 April this year.
He was sent to Changi General Hospital and spent more than a week in intensive care before passing away on 30 April.
A preliminary assessment from a Committee of Inquiry (COI) convened to look into the training death revealed that the significant delay in evacuating CFC Lee, together with lapses leading up to the fast march could have resulted in him suffering from accumulated fatigue and insufficient rest, leading to his heat stroke and subsequent death.
A letter reportedly written by CFC Lee’s squad-mate claims gross lapses by commanders led to his death.
