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Police to probe death of NSF Dave Lee; youth's mother reserves comment pending investigations

SINGAPORE — The police will independently probe the death of full-time national serviceman Dave Lee Han Xuan, the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) said on Wednesday (May 2), adding that a Coroner’s Inquiry may be held depending on the outcome of the investigations.

The parents (second and third from right) of late full-time national serviceman Dave Lee Han Xuan speaking to the media.

The parents (second and third from right) of late full-time national serviceman Dave Lee Han Xuan speaking to the media.

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SINGAPORE — The police will independently probe the death of full-time national serviceman Dave Lee Han Xuan, the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) said on Wednesday (May 2), adding that a Coroner’s Inquiry may be held depending on the outcome of the investigations.

In a statement, Mindef also disclosed that a separate investigation by a Committee of Inquiry (COI) will be chaired by a senior official from the Ministry of Education. The COI, which had been announced earlier, will have a "medical specialist from the public healthcare sector" among its members.

The ministry gave no further details on the composition of the committee, or the names of its members. 

Mindef's latest comments came as parents of Corporal Lee spoke to the media for the first time since their son died after sustaining heat injury at Bedok camp. Some of their relatives had demanded a "full explanation" from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), but the youth's parents said it was too early to comment on the incident.

"We need to settle Dave first. That's our priority," his mother Jasmine Yeo told reporters at a brief interview arranged by Mindef at the wake in Jurong East.

Corporal Lee's military funeral will be held on Saturday.

The 19-year-old Guardsman from the 1st Battalion Singapore Guards died on Monday (April 30) at Changi General Hospital, where he had been warded since April 18 after showing signs of heat injury following an 8km fast march.

His aunts had called for a "full explanation" from the SAF, after an unnamed soldier's account of events that took place before and after the fast march went viral online. They were not present at the interview.

The soldier, who said he was from the 1st Battalion Singapore Guards, claimed Corporal Lee's commanders had shown "reckless behaviour", forcing him to complete the fast march "even though he was showing signs of extreme physical exhaustion". According to him, they had not allowed the soldiers adequate rest the night before the march.

Asked about this account, Mdm Yeo said: "Let's leave it for now… (After the funeral), we will then work on that."

She also reserved comment on the authorities' handling of the incident from the time their son collapsed, citing the COI investigations to be conducted.

Brigadier-General Siew Kum Wong, the Army's Chief of Staff - General Staff, said on Tuesday night that a COI, headed by a senior civil servant from outside Mindef and the SAF, would be convened to investigate the circumstances leading to Corporal Lee's death. The committee will also determine the contributory factors and make recommendations to rectify any lapses or inadequacies uncovered.

The personnel responsible will be held accountable should there be training safety violations, BG Siew said in a post on The Singapore Army Facebook page.

COIs are convened for all training-related deaths and Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said in Parliament in 2012 their work usually takes around a few months.

Corporal Lee – who was posthumously accorded the rank and awarded the Guards and RECON military tabs as well as the Guards beret – enlisted for National Service four months ago.

The family was happy about the milestone and felt he had enjoyed the experience and made many good friends, said Mdm Yeo.

"I think he did his best. He did us really proud," said his sister Joey Lee Han You, 23, an undergraduate at the Singapore Institute of Technology.

Corporal Lee had intended to further his studies after National Service. He had received offers from the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University in science-related courses, Mdm Yeo said.

Mother and son were close and would hold hands when they went shopping.

Her fondest memory of her son, she said, was his "hugs and kisses" before he booked in and when he returned home.

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