NSman found unconscious had apologised repeatedly,
court told
By Leong Wee Keat, TODAY |
Posted: 13 January 2009 2327 hrs
SINGAPORE: He had seemed "confused" when he returned to his bunk
and, according to a platoon mate, Mr Jeremy Tan Chia Whee told
them: "I do not know who I am."
Twenty minutes after this, at about 6pm, Mr Tan - who was then a
full-time national serviceman - was found unconscious on a grass
patch outside the block of his third-level bunk at Seletar
Camp.
More than three years later, Mr Tan is still on the mend.
Now 26, he is warded at the Tan Tock Seng Rehabilitation Centre,
unable to move or speak, fully dependent on doctors and nurses for
his daily needs.
His parents are now suing the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) over
compensation issues.
Mindef has classified Mr Tan's injuries as non-service related
injuries, which means he is only compensated on 80 per cent of his
ward and meal charges.
But Mr Tan's parents claim their son should be entitled to full
compensation as he was on duty, and was wearing his army t-shirt,
trousers and boots when found.
There were apparently no witnesses to what had happened; medical
reports said he suffered a head injury consistent with a fall from
height.
Mr Tan Kian Lee testified yesterday that his son was the duty
storeman on Aug 3, 2005, and had been waiting for his replacement,
holding on to the store keys when he was found.
But Staff Sergeant Wan Chuan Seah - Mr Jeremy Tan's superior - said
the general practice was that the duty storeman may return to rest
at around 5pm, upon completing his tasks for the day.
This was despite the stipulated duty hours for the duty storeman
being from 8am to 6pm.
Since Mindef's payments ceased in February 2007, his parents have
chalked up outstanding hospital bills totalling $133,000 for his
upkeep.
Yesterday, mother Hor Hong Kiow told the court that manpower
officer Linda Quek had told her she would appeal to Mindef to cover
Mr Tan's medical fees, as his injuries had occurred in the course
of duty.
Madam Hor also claimed Major Quek had told her the Singapore Armed
Forces would appeal on the family's behalf.
Mr Jeremy Tan's sister, Jasmine, provided the court with a
transcript of SMSes that he had sent to two servicemen, copied off
his mobile phone.
In one SMS, Mr Tan reportedly asked a serviceman what time he was
coming back to the boat-shed. He also messaged another man,
Sergeant Chew Zi Guo, with his apologies.
State Counsel Shawn Ho said Sgt Chew, who also spoke to Mr Tan over
the phone, would testify that he did not understand why Mr Tan said
he blamed himself for everything, apologised repeatedly and
cried.
The hearing continues.
