No Inconsistencies in MINDEF's Public Statements on the Late CFC Dave Lee

Please refer to the letter 'Inconsistent info on NSF's death troubling' published on 17 August 2018. 

The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF)'s public statements and the Committee of Inquiry (COI) both concurred that Corporal First Class (CFC) Dave Lee was, as stated in the 6 August Ministerial Statement, "immediately attended to by the commander/s and the cover medic/s" when he became disorientated after the fast march. However, the COI's preliminary assessment was that inadequate on-site casualty management and delay in evacuation were the likely reasons for CFC Lee succumbing to heat stroke. There is therefore no inconsistency in MINDEF's statements. Information determined by the COI has been given in the Ministerial Statement. The names of commanders and personnel involved have been omitted, as section 8C of the SAF Act provides that no statements made to the COI shall be admissible as evidence in the court martial or for disciplinary proceedings.

As stated previously, police investigations are on-going and the Coroner may hold a public inquiry. Following their investigations, the Attorney General will decide on prosecution if there is criminal culpability.

Lim Chuen Ni
Director Public Communications
Ministry of Defence