SINGAPORE — The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) is investigating two videos taken last year that purportedly show ragging activities at its premises.

One clip shows an SCDF officer struggling in a well filled with water while the other video shows the same officer being dragged on the floor, according to Channel NewsAsia (CNA), which first reported on the videos on Thursday (May 24).

When contacted, an SCDF spokesman said the force "is aware of the incident and (we) are investigating", but declined to give more details.

The investigation came a day after the SCDF pledged to take tougher action against officers who fail to stop or report ragging and unauthorised initiation activities despite being aware of them.

According to CNA, the videos were recorded between January and February 2017 at the old Jurong Fire Station, which was shuttered in late 2017.

Ragging incidents in the SCDF have been under the spotlight following the death of full-time national serviceman (NSF) Corporal Kok Yuen Chin on May 13.

The 22-year-old, who did not know how to swim, was found unconscious at the bottom of Tuas View Fire Station's 12m pump well that contained 11m of water. He had been celebrating his impending Operationally Ready Date with his squad mates.

Two SCDF regulars – a Warrant Officer 1 and a Staff Sergeant – were arrested in relation to Corporal Kok's death. They have been suspended from service and will receive half their salaries pending the outcome of police investigations, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said last week.

Four other officers, who were due for promotion on June 1, will have their promotions withheld pending the conclusion of investigations.

On Wednesday, SCDF announced a slew of enhanced measures to prevent a repeat of the tragedy, such as expanding closed circuit television coverage within SCDF premises, and installing a metal grating across the opening of pump wells and locked to prevent unauthorised access.

All unit commanders have been "specifically told they will be held personally accountable for any ragging and unauthorised initiation activities that take place in their units".

There have been at least five reported incidents of ragging in the SCDF in the past eight years, the force said earlier this month.