http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2BNews/Singapore/STIStory_158690.html
Awol corporal triggers major review of SAF camp
security
Defence Minister says the recent incident is a localised one; most
camps comply with procedures.
By David Boey
ALL Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) camps have been checked to ensure
camp security is adequate, following the incident involving an Awol
corporal who walked out of a camp with a rifle and ammunition,
Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean said in Parliament on Monday.
An audit found that all SAF camps comply with the relevant orders
and procedures, and the recent incident is a problem localised to
Corporal Dave Teo Ming's unit, said Mr Teo.
"Nonetheless, the SAF has stepped up the frequency of security
audits of all SAF camps to ensure compliance with stipulated camp
guard procedures," he added.
The Minister took questions from two MPs who wanted to know how
Teo, a full-time National Serviceman, got out of his army camp
carrying a SAR-21 assault rifle and ammunition. His disappearance
while on guard duty on Sept 2 at Mandai Hill Camp triggered a
20-hour island-wide manhunt that ended with Teo's arrest the next
day at Orchard Cineleisure shopping mall.
The minister said Teo absconded by jumping off from the second
floor of his guard room onto the car park outside his camp.
He said said the criminal case involving Teo, which is now before
the courts, led to a thorough review of the incident by a High
Board of Inquiry to assess how it could have taken place.
This was complemented by a a security review of SAF military
installations to plug weaknesses in the design of existing camps to
ensure military personnel cannot sneak out.
The SAF also reviewed current procedures that govern how arms and
ammunition are handled by SAF personnel.
Teo faces three charges: for carrying a firearm in the Orchard
Cineleisure toilet where he was arrested, unlawfully possessing
eight rounds of rifle ammunition, and possession of a 40cm knife in
public in April.
The Minister said the inquiry board concluded that although the
SAF's systems and procedures were generally adequate, there were
three lapses that led to the Cpl Teo incident.
These were:
-Weaknesses in the implementation and supervision of Guard Room
procedures at Mandai Hill Camp that night.
-Weaknesses in the physical construction of Mandai Hill Camp also
enabled CPL Teo to slip out without being detected.
-There was non-compliance with reporting procedures which require
the quick reporting of all serious incidents, such as those
involving missing arms and ammunition.
Read the full report in Tuesday's edition of The Straits Times
