<NSman found unconscious had apologised repeatedly, court told>
By Leong Wee Keat, TODAY | Posted: 13 January 2009 2327 hrs


SINGAPORE: He had seemed "confused" when he returned to his bunk and, according to a platoon mate, Mr Jeremy Tan Chia Whee told them: "I do not know who I am."

Twenty minutes after this, at about 6pm, Mr Tan - who was then a full-time national serviceman - was found unconscious on a grass patch outside the block of his third-level bunk at Seletar Camp.

More than three years later, Mr Tan is still on the mend.

Now 26, he is warded at the Tan Tock Seng Rehabilitation Centre, unable to move or speak, fully dependent on doctors and nurses for his daily needs.

His parents are now suing the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) over compensation issues.

Mindef has classified Mr Tan's injuries as non-service related injuries, which means he is only compensated on 80 per cent of his ward and meal charges.

But Mr Tan's parents claim their son should be entitled to full compensation as he was on duty, and was wearing his army t-shirt, trousers and boots when found.

There were apparently no witnesses to what had happened; medical reports said he suffered a head injury consistent with a fall from height.

Mr Tan Kian Lee testified yesterday that his son was the duty storeman on Aug 3, 2005, and had been waiting for his replacement, holding on to the store keys when he was found.

But Staff Sergeant Wan Chuan Seah - Mr Jeremy Tan's superior - said the general practice was that the duty storeman may return to rest at around 5pm, upon completing his tasks for the day.

This was despite the stipulated duty hours for the duty storeman being from 8am to 6pm.

Since Mindef's payments ceased in February 2007, his parents have chalked up outstanding hospital bills totalling $133,000 for his upkeep.

Yesterday, mother Hor Hong Kiow told the court that manpower officer Linda Quek had told her she would appeal to Mindef to cover Mr Tan's medical fees, as his injuries had occurred in the course of duty.

Madam Hor also claimed Major Quek had told her the Singapore Armed Forces would appeal on the family's behalf.

Mr Jeremy Tan's sister, Jasmine, provided the court with a transcript of SMSes that he had sent to two servicemen, copied off his mobile phone.

In one SMS, Mr Tan reportedly asked a serviceman what time he was coming back to the boat-shed. He also messaged another man, Sergeant Chew Zi Guo, with his apologies.

State Counsel Shawn Ho said Sgt Chew, who also spoke to Mr Tan over the phone, would testify that he did not understand why Mr Tan said he blamed himself for everything, apologised repeatedly and cried.

The hearing continues.




Man, i really feel for his parents. Why did Mindef stop paying when it undertook payment in the first place? This act sucks

i think there's a definite co-relation between this tragic incident and the mindef decision recently to enforce compulsory insurance for all servicemen.

[edit] grammer

I think the payment stopped when he was considered ORD? I think someone should have raise it for special compassionate considerations but seems to have fallen through the crack.

Probably a mistake by the S1 Branch-- I agree with what FIVE-TWO said. If he was not in the unit for a long while people will forget him, then he will fall through the cracks. I think MINDEF will have to pay up in the end!

that was my unit.... and the SSG mentioned was my ex-csm! yeah 'fallen through the cracks' may be quite true, since by the time i was there in 06-07 no one mentioned this case at all.

probably pushed upstairs and then forgotten, no one likes to tell sad stories like this one.

interestingly, what people remember are things like how tammy's boyfriend (from that infamous scandal video) was supposedly from my unit as well...

This policy could've been implemented sooner.

For an organization such as Mindef, having been responsible for hundreds of thousands of national servicemen for more than 4 decades , i'm curious why it took so long for such as decision. Could it be because no insurance companies wanted to take the risk?

strangely AFAIK , SAF always had insurance policy plans.

just that take up wasnt mandatory i guess. afterall, this is a individual level matter. you cant exactly force someone to take up an insurance policy if he dosent want to (or already has sufficient external coverage)

I thought the common understanding is that if your injury occured in a place of duty, it is considered to be a service injury.

I think that it is just wrong and very bad PR by Mindef.

The Garmen have to find a way to help the family, but I'm sure there are other factors not reported in the story (so it may not be so simple).

During my time, one of my sp coy camp mates was killed and our Bn had to organize a military funeral.

Some blogs on the issue:

http://scientific-child-prodigy.blogspot.c...-gratitude.html

http://singaporecitizen.wordpress.com/2009...-not-proven-so/

http://nofearsingapore.blogspot.com/2009/0...ight-thing.html

Case has been won by the family. Good call.

Link

Totally agree. It would've been awful if the verdict had turned the other way.

May the guy recover and be restored to health and wholeness

Having said that, i don't think i'd be off the mark by saying that the callous action of mindef must've left a sour and bitter taste among Singaporeans who have served and are currently serving.

Really sucks

I'll bet someone's going to have to be accountable as to why this issue became such a big mistake in the first place.

Everyone who's served knows that working hours are just working hours, your ass belongs to the SAF for the period you are liable for NS.

Really hope he recovers one day, it must be really hell on his family to see him in such a state for 10 years.. :(

After our Gahmen's performance with the Mas Selamat inquiry, I bet it will be a lower ranking person who gets the axe. Someone higher level (at close to minister/perm sec level) should be held accountable.

I am so disappointed with Mindef.

Thank goodness our courts still can dispense justice. With the judgment, Mindef will become liable for all his family's legal fees.