‘Please tell the full truth,’ aunts of late NSF Dave Lee say in latest appeal to his army mates
On Thursday, the Singapore Army posted tributes to CFC Lee from his former army mates, one of whom praised him as a “great man”.
SINGAPORE — Two aunts of the late full-time national serviceman Dave Lee Han Xuan have appealed to his army mates to tell investigators “the full truth”, a day after it was announced that the police would be conducting an independent probe of the youth’s death from heat injury.
In separate posts on Facebook on Thursday (May 3), Ms Michelle Yeo and Ms Cecilia Yeo said the 19-year-old’s death had “shattered” the family.
“To all army mates and witnesses on that fateful day, please speak out for Dave where he can no longer do that now. Please tell the full truth (during the) investigations,” wrote Ms Michelle Yeo.
She added: “If Dave had touched your life in any way, perhaps this will be the last thing you can do for him now.”
Echoing her sister’s plea, Ms Cecilia Yeo said that “this incident has shattered our family and (Dave’s) future”, and called on those who witnessed the events leading up to Corporal Lee’s death to be “the voice (for) Dave”.
The two of them had earlier called on the Singapore Armed Forces to give a “full explanation” on the death of Corporal First Class (CFC) Lee, a Guardsman from the 1st Battalion Singapore Guards.
The former Jurong Junior College student died on Monday after spending more than a week in intensive care at the Changi General Hospital, where he had been warded since April 18 after showing signs of heat injury following an 8km fast march.
An unnamed soldier's account of events that took place before and after the fast march alleged that CFC Lee's commanders had shown "reckless behaviour", forcing him to complete the fast march "even though he was showing signs of extreme physical exhaustion".
CFC Lee’s parents declined to discuss the incident and the allegations when they spoke to the media on Wednesday. The youth’s mother, Madam Jasmine Yeo, also reserved comment on the authorities' handling of the incident from the time their son collapsed, citing the investigations to be conducted.
The Ministry of Defence (Mindef) announced on Wednesday that the police would independently probe CFC Lee’s death, and that a Coroner’s Inquiry may be held depending on the outcome of the investigations.
Mindef added that a separate investigation by a Committee of Inquiry (COI) will be chaired by a senior official from the Ministry of Education. The COI, which had been announced earlier, will have a "medical specialist from the public healthcare sector" among its members.
COIs are convened for all training-related deaths. They have full powers and access to information and personnel to investigate the circumstances leading to death, determine the contributory factors and make recommendations to rectify any lapses or inadequacies uncovered.
On Thursday, the Singapore Army posted tributes to CFC Lee from his former army mates, one of whom praised him as a “great man”.
“He taught me how a person should face life with positivity and smile even in difficult times. Truly, he was a soldier capable of incredible deeds, and I'm proud of him as a brotherly figure who has impacted our lives in so many ways,” one of the CFC Lee’s platoon mates, who was identified only as Private Binson, was quoted saying in a Facebook post by the Singapore Army.
CFC Lee’s scout commander, identified only as Third Sergeant Daryl, was quoted in the same Facebook post as saying the late soldier was a cheerful person who brought “laughter and smiles to those around him”.
“Dave's passing has definitely been a huge loss to my section, the platoon, and the whole battalion. We will never forget the good times he brought into our lives, and may he rest in peace,” he said.
CFC Lee will be accorded the honours of a military funeral this Saturday (May 5).
