Not just one,
but two Singapore Armed Forces personnel were injured in Thailand
two months ago by a villager who was out
hunting.
MediaCorp understands that a full—time National Serviceman was
one of two who were accidentally hit by gun pellets — believed to
be the first time SAF soldiers have been shot by a civilian —
during a proficiency test conducted by the Army Training Evaluation
Centre.
The other victim reported on Tuesday in the media was
25—year—old First Sergeant Woo Teng Hai, a regular from the 1st
Commando Battalion, and was said to be still on medical leave.
MediaCorp understands that the second victim has completed his
medical leave and should be returning to his duties soon.
The incident occurred in a designated training area within
Kanchanaburi province, some 130 kilometres west from Bangkok,
during a routine training exercise on the night of March 13.
Since then, the SAF has received full assistance from the Royal
Thai Army for the investigations into the incident.
Preliminary findings have found that the shooting was an
accident.
The two militaries are continuing to work closely to inform
villagers about the training areas which can also be used by Thai
armed forces. — CNA/vm
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MINDEF did not disclose that a second soldier, a full-time
national serviceman, was also shot in the same incident. The news
of the second shooting only surfaced when a relative of Private J.
Pritheery Raj contacted The Straits Times.
In the first report on May 24, a Thai farmer had fired his shotgun
at 1st Sgt Woo Teng Hai while the latter was out on a night
exercise in Thailand. The regular commando is said to have been
blinded in his right eye.
The Defence Ministry only admitted yesterday (May 25) that
Private Raj had also been hurt in the same incident. The
NSF still has two shotgun pellets lodged in his cheekbones and
right shoulder. He has been on medical leave for the last two
months.
In the STOMPer's email:
"I read the news about the second soldier shot in the news today
with surprise.
"Why didn't MINDEF give full disclosure about the second soldier
who was also hurt?
"Is it because he is 'just' a NSF Private?
"Apparently the relative of the poor Private had to contact the
media directly after reading the report about the commando being
shot by the Thai farmer."
