SINGAPORE: A Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) officer is set to plead guilty to causing grievous hurt to a 19-year-old full-time national serviceman ( NSF ) by leaving him alone to fight a fire in a flat.
Muhammad Kamil Mohamed Yasin, 39, will plead guilty on Jan 15, 2025 according to court records updated on Monday ( Nov 18 ).
The NSF, Sergeant 1 (SGT1 ) Edward H Go, fell unconscious while fighting a fire at Block 91 Henderson Road on Dec 8, 2022, and later died in hospital.
After the heat barrel ran out, he suffocated to death.
SGT1 Go was the first fire to death in an SCDF activity. He was buried with a customary death and elevated to lieutenant status in the end.
Kamil is accused of leaving SGT1 Get single it after leaving the apartment where the fire was, without any further notice, and injuring anyone there.
This was previously stated against SCDF procedures by the authorities.
He faces a jail term of up to four years, a fine of up to S$ 10, 000 ( US$ 7, 500 ), or both.
Kamil was charged on Oct 16, 2023 and is already out on bail of S$ 15, 000. Ramesh Tiwary, a seasoned attorney, represents him.
Kamil previously claimed he was suspended on half-pay from October 19 to October 2023 because he held the rank of Warrant Officer ( 2 ).
Beginning on August 23, 2023, he was let go from front-line duties and moved to an administrative assistance position.
A SCDF internal review team convened after SGT1 Go’s passing to suggest that the pressure thoroughly examine the selection and teaching of its floor commanders.
For this, there were efforts to put more reliance on command duty and conduct exercises to test their innate command and control skills.
Additionally, SCDF implemented additional safety measures, such as the addition of an agent who monitors firefighters ‘ deployment and checks their personal protective equipment before they enter the area of a fire.
In September 2023, SCDF began using this officer for smaller flames, such as household fires, even though this was now being done for larger and more difficult flames.