COI set up to investigate death of NSF who died in Brunei
By Olivia Siong | Posted: 16 August 2012 1501 hrs
A Committee of
Inquiry (COI) has been set up to investigate the death of full-time
National Serviceman Corporal (Cpl) Muhammad Fahrurrazi Salim.
Preliminary findings from the post-mortem of CPL Fahrurrazi showed he had drowned during a training exercise in Brunei.
Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is asking itself many questions about the incident.
He said there are a number of questions that are unexplained and difficult to understand as to why Cpl Fahrurrazi drowned.
Dr Ng said the incident took place during daylight and the water was calm.
Cpl Fahrurrazi was also said to have had his life jacket on and to be a good swimmer.
He had also only lost contact for a few minutes with his convoy.
Dr Ng said Cpl Fahrurrazi's platoon mates were devastated by the incident.
The
20-year-old, who was given a post-humus promotion to the rank of
Corporal, was said to have been a good soldier and well-liked by his
peers and commanders.
Grief counsellors and psychologists have been sent to assist the family and his platoon mates.
Dr
Ng said: "SAF trains rigorously and realistically. Obviously to ensure
the safety of our soldiers and our men, we have strict safety protocols.
So this is not a new exercise; many batches go through river crossing
in Brunei. We will have to wait for the COI to determine if all the
safety protocols have been adhered to."
- CNA/ck
The 20-year-old, who was given a post-humus promotion to the rank
of Corporal, was said to have been a good soldier and well-liked by
his peers and commanders.
At least give Corporal First Class lah.