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SCDF investigating two 'ragging incident' videos from 2017

SCDF personnel taking part in a counter-terrorism exercise in October 2017. (File photo: Yahoo News Singapore)
SCDF personnel taking part in a counter-terrorism exercise in October 2017. (File photo: Yahoo News Singapore)

A pair of videos circulating online depicting a ragging incident at the old Jurong Fire Station are actually from early 2017, said the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), which is investigating the incident.

The SCDF “will not tolerate any ragging or unauthorised initiation activities”, it said in a statement on Thursday night (24 May).

According to media reports, one video shows an SCDF officer being dragged along the floor, down a flight of stairs.

A second video shows an SCDF officer – who appears to be the same one from the first video – struggling in what looks to be a pump well. People can be heard laughing in the video.

The videos surfaced after the news of the death of SCDF Corporal Kok Yuen Chin. Kok, 22, drowned in a pump well in the Tuas View Fire Station on 13 May during a ragging ritual associated with his upcoming operationally-ready date (ORD).

Following the incident, two SCDF regular personnel were arrested. The Ministry of Home Affairs also announced it would convene a Board of Inquiry to conduct a review of the incident.

SCDF said on Wednesday that it would introduce several measures such as installing metal grating across the openings of fire station pump wells to weed out the ragging culture in the SCDF.

The SCDF added that the pump wells will also be locked to prevent unauthorised access. Access to and the use of these wells will also be tightly controlled. CCTV coverage within SCDF premises will also be expanded.

Currently, SCDF full-time NSFs or operationally-ready servicemen who participate in ragging activities are liable to a detention sentence of up to 40 days, in addition to demotion in rank. SCDF regular officers will be disciplined under the Public Service Commission disciplinary framework and are liable to be fined, demoted or dismissed from service.

Such penalties will also be extended to officers found to be aware of such activities but did not stop or report them.

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SCDF NSF’s death: Criminal charges ‘almost certain’, says Shanmugam