Singapore Armed Forces Servicemen to be Charged in Relation to the Death of Operationally Ready National Serviceman

Two Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) servicemen, Military Expert 2 (ME2) Ivan Teo, aged 35, and Third Sergeant(NS) [3SG(NS)] Hubert Wah, aged 31, will be charged in military court today in relation to the death of an operationally ready national serviceman, Corporal First Class(NS) [CFC(NS)] Aloysius Pang, on 23 January 2019. The military court martial is presided over by a serving State Courts judge.

ME2 Teo will face three charges – one charge for disobedience of general orders under section 21 of the SAF Act; and two charges for causing death by negligent act under section 304A(b) of the Penal Code.

A serviceman convicted for disobedience of general orders shall be liable for imprisonment of up to 2 years. A person convicted for causing death by negligent act shall be liable for imprisonment of up to 2 years, a fine, or both.

3SG(NS) Wah will face two charges – one charge for causing death by rash act under section 304A(a) of the Penal Code, and one charge for causing death by negligent act under section 304A(b) of the Penal Code. 

A person convicted for causing death by rash act shall be liable for imprisonment of up to 5 years, a fine, or both. 

As CFC(NS) Pang's death occurred in New Zealand, the Singapore Police Force does not have jurisdiction to conduct investigations into his death. Investigations into his death were conducted by the SAF's Special Investigation Branch (SIB), and the Chief Military Prosecutor has decided to prosecute the two SAF servicemen based on the investigation findings of the SIB.