How come post that, but not post this? Stumbled on the followup
from the same website:
Mindef to act against staff who punished soldier
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Straits Times Feb 4, 1999
By CHONG CHEE KIN
Mindef investigated after a corporal complained over the Internet
that he was ill-treated during his training
Read the soldier's chilling report
THE Ministry of Defence is taking disciplinary action against some
of its instructors after investigating complaints of ill-treatment
made over the Internet by a soldier.
Corporal Benjamin Lou, 24, claimed in a posting on the Internet
newsgroup soc.culture.singapore that he was ill-treated by
instructors during his basic military training (BMT) three years
ago.
In the posting, which first appeared on Jan 24, Cpl Lou made
numerous detailed allegations. [Singapore Window's source obtained
the report in October 1998.]
Among other things, he claimed that he was assaulted, made to do
excessive exercise and forced to go without sleep for days on
end.
It is understood that before he enlisted, he had signed a six-year
contract to serve the Singapore Armed Forces as a commando.
Cpl Lou, who is still with the SAF, said that he complained about
the alleged ill-treatment only late last year.
His posting on the Internet newsgroup remained there for several
days.
Responding to questions from the Straits Times, a Mindef spokesman
said yesterday that it had investigated Cpl Lou's
allegations.
"The investigation established that there were instances of
unauthorised punishment meted out to him by his instructors," the
spokesman said.
But he added: "However, our investigations also showed that some of
the allegations, such as the claim that he was deprived of sleep
for 15 days, could not be substantiated."
Stressing that Mindef took all such complaints seriously, the
spokesman said: "We do not condone the actions of the instructors
who meted out the unauthorised punishment as they are clearly
against our rules and regulations.
"Appropriate disciplinary actions are being taken."
He also said that the ministry first came to know about Cpl Lou's
complaints in November last year and that a thorough investigation
had followed.
He added: "The investigations took some time because the alleged
incidents happened about three years ago and most of the witnesses
had already left the SAF."
Published in the Straits Times. Feb 4, 1999
