SINGAPORE — There have been at least five reported incidents of ragging in the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) in the past eight years, with errant officers sent to the SCDF Detention Barracks for a period ranging from three to 40 days, depending on “their actual role and involvement” in the incidents.

In a statement on Tuesday (May 15) evening, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that the SCDF adopts a zero tolerance policy against unauthorised activities such as ragging and “continually reinforces the deterrent measures against such activities”.

It highlighted at least five reported incidents which occurred between May 2010 and August 2015 that had resulted in SCDF officers serving time in the detention barracks.

In one such incident which happened in May 2010, two new SCDF officers were coerced by their colleagues to undergo an initiation session at the station’s pump well. The incident was later reported to the SCDF by one of the officers that had been ragged.

In total, seven officers were involved in the incident and were punished with penalties ranging from 15 to 23 days in the detention barracks, said the MHA.

The incident draws parallels to the death of SCDF full-time national serviceman Corporal Kok Yuen Chin, who died after he was found at the bottom of a fire station's pump well on Sunday night. He had been celebrating his impending end of full-time national service with his squad mates the night before.

According to the SCDF, the pump well is about 12 metres deep and its opening is 1.8 metres in diameter. At the time of the incident, the water level in the well was about 11 metres deep.

The 22-year-old, who was due to end his service on Wednesday, did not resurface. When a few other SCDF personnel tried to look for him, they could not find him. He was eventually pulled out from the well after the water had been drained from the pump well.

Corporal Kok’s death was the first resulting from ragging in the service.

He was reported to have sustained bruises to his forehead and chin, and was missing two of his teeth in the incident.

In a statement to the media, the Singapore Police Force said that it is aware of media reports “stating that there were visible injuries discovered on the late (national serviceman)”.

“Preliminary investigation findings from Police as well as findings from the pathologist indicate that the injuries were sustained in the well and during the rescue process,” said the Police.

It added that investigations are ongoing and that the “public should not speculate”.

Two regular servicemen —  a Warrant Officer 1 and a Staff Sergeant — have been arrested following preliminary investigations which have pointed to prohibited activities taking place.

In another case highlighted by the authorities which occurred in January 2015, three officers “subjected another officer to an initiation ritual by splashing water on the officer using a water hose in the toilet,” said the MHA. The incident was then reported to the SCDF by the officer’s father.

“The three errant officers were punished with detention ranging from 30 to 40 days, depending on their actual role and involvement,” said the MHA.

Other cases saw officers spraying white paint onto a new officer’s chest, thighs and back in an initiation ritual, as well as using  a dirty mop to rub and hit the heads and bodies of two other new officers, added the MHA.

Cases of ragging are commonplace in the SCDF, according to current and former SCDF officers whom TODAY spoke to. According to the officers, ragging could involve activities as mundane as acting or singing in front of everyone, or applying Kiwi shoe polish to their bodies.

It usually happens as an “initiation” for new trainees assigned to a fire station or before they complete their National Service (NS).

Another ex-firefighter, who served his NS in the SCDF, told TODAY he had seen NSFs being thrown into pump wells before, which are “very deep”. He further noted that they would usually require help climbing out, especially if the well is more than half-full with water.

The activity is also “a pretty popular choice" for ragging activity, and cuts across all fire stations, he added.

On its end, the MHA said that all SCDF officers are allowed to report any wrongful practices to their immediate supervisors, unit commander, director, commissioner or the ministry itself under its whistle-blowing programme.

It added that new recruits and enlistees would be briefed by their orientation officer on these procedures during their Basic Rescue Training Course, Section Commander Course and Basic Fire Fighting Course.

“Briefings on anti-ragging awareness are (also) conducted for all personnel upon joining the SCDF, upon their postings to units, and at periodic intervals,” said the MHA.

It added: “Anti-ragging materials such as videos and posters are produced and disseminated to increase officers’ awareness of SCDF’s zero-tolerance policy against ragging.”

NSFs who participate in unauthorised activities such as ragging will have such errant behaviour recorded in their Certificate of Service, while officers who carry out ragging activities will be liable for prosecution if there is criminal wrongdoing, said the MHA.