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Tort

Smokegrenadecase:Duoconvictedofnegligence
Source
Date
Author

StraitsTimes
08Mar2016
JermynChow

2officersfoundguiltyin2013EngHensaysMindefshouldwaivelegal
costsforlawsuit
TwoSingaporeArmedForces(SAF)officerswereconvictedforbeingnegligentduring
a2012trainingexercise,inwhichfulltimenationalservicemanDominiqueSarronLee
diedafteranallergicreactiontothesmokegrenadesthatwereused.
Theywerefoundguiltyinasummarytrialin2013,eventhoughaCoroner'sInquiry
andanindependentCommitteeofInquirydidnotfindthem"directlyresponsible"for
PrivateLee'sdeath,saidtheSingaporeArmy.
TheSAF,however,didnotindicatethepunishmentmetedouttothetrainingexercise's
chiefsafetyofficerChiaThyeSiong,andtheplatooncommanderwhothrewthesmoke
grenades,NajibHanukMuhamadJalal.
Revealingthisyesterday,BrigadierGeneral(BG)ChanWingKai,commanderofthe
army'sTrainingandDoctrineCommand,alsopledgedto"remaincommitted"to
assistingandprovidingsupportforPteLee'sfamily.
Besidesdisbursingwelfaregrantssincetheincident,theSAFhasalsoofferedthe
familycompensationwhichis"generallytwotofourtimesthatofamounts"provided
undertheworkinjurycompensationlawforincidentsarisingfromtrainingand
operations,BGChansaidinapostonthearmy'sFacebookpage.
TheDefenceMinistryalsowaivedthelegalcostsfromapreviouscasewhichPteLee's
familyeventuallywithdrew.
Inhispost,thegeneralsoughttoclarifyissuesfollowingapublicoutcryonsocial
mediaaftertheHighCourtlastThursdaystruckoutalawsuitbroughtagainsttheSAF
andtwoofficersbyPteLee'sfamily.
ThecourtalsoruledthatPteLee'sfamilyhastopaylegalcostsof$22,000tothethree
defendants.
Lastnight,DefenceMinisterNgEngHenannouncedinaFacebookpostthatMindef
"shouldwaivethecoststothefamily".

HeexplainedthatwhiletheHighCourt'sjudgmentinawardingMindefcostsisbased
onsoundlegalgroundsandprecedents,therewasnoneedto"addtothepainand
anguishofthefamilyofthelatePteLee".
DrNgaddedthattheSAF"mustlearnfromeveryaccident,fixlapsesandimprove".
"Thisisthewaywehonourallthosewhohavegiventheiralltobuildastrongand
honourableSAF,"hesaid.
PteLee'smother,MadamFeliciaSeah,hadputupaFacebookpostlastThursday
questioningthedecision.Ittriggeredanoutpouringofsympathyfromthepublic,who
calledformoretobedonetopresschargesagainstthedefendants.
Addressingthedebateyesterday,BGChansaidtheSAFtook"administrativeand
disciplinaryaction"againstChiaandNajib.
Basedonthesizeofthetrainingarea,nomorethantwosmokegrenadesshouldhave
beenused.ButNajibthrewsix,floutingtheSAF'strainingsafetyregulations.
BGChansaidtheywereconvictedinasummarytrial"fornegligentperformanceof
lawfulorderorduty"andpunishedaccordingtomilitarylaw.
CitingtheCoroner'sfindings,hesaidPteLee,21,haddiedfromanacuteallergic
reactiontozincchloride,akeycompoundusedinsmokegrenades,addingthatthis
acuteallergicreactionwas"unlikelytohavebeenpredicted".
"AsPteLee'sacuteallergicreactiontothesmokegrenadesthrownbytheplatoon
commanderwasnotreasonablyforeseeable,nocriminalchargeswerebroughtagainst
thetwoofficers,"explainedBGChan.
HealsohighlightedthatSAFservicemencanbechargedandpunishedinthecriminal
courtsforoffencesofcommittingrashandnegligentacts,"evenduringthecourseof
theirmilitaryduties".
"TheAttorneyGeneral'sChambers,nottheSAF,decidesiftheevidencewarrantsthis
courseofaction."BGChancitedpreviouscasestobackhispoint.
"Thoseresponsiblethroughtheirrashandnegligentactswillbeheldaccountable
underourMilitaryCourtandCriminalLawCourts,"headded.BGChanpointedout
thatbesidessteppingupsafetymeasures,theSAFhadalsochangedthesmoke
grenadesusedintraining,addingthattheSAF"valuesthelifeofeverysoldierand
recognisesthatweareresponsibleforthesonsofSingaporeplacedunderourcharge".
Whencontacted,PteLee'suncleSeanSeahtoldTheStraitsTimesthatthefamilyis
disappointedintheSAF'sresponse,sayingthatquestionsremainunanswered.
"Thereisnocontrition...Iftheofficersarefoundtohavebeennegligentintheirduties,
howcantheynotbedirectlyresponsibleforDominique'sdeath?"

Source:StraitsTimesSingaporePressHoldingsLtd.Permissionrequiredfor
reproduction.