Two commandos, who appealed against their court sentence for
causing the death of 19-year-old national serviceman Second
Sergeant Hu En Huai during a dunking exercise, have had their jail
terms increased instead.
Chief Justice Yong Pung How on Thursday also dismissed the appeals
of Captain M Pandiaraj and Warrant Officer S Balakrishnan.
Captain Pandiaraj had been sentenced to a jail term of three months
each on two charges.
One was with abetting Mr Hu's death, by instigating the instructors
to carry out the training.
The other was with causing grievous hurt to Captain Ho Wan Huo, who
underwent the same training.
The Chief Justice raised his jail term to 12 months for each
charge.
The sentences were to run concurrently, which means he would have
to serve 12 months in prison.
Warrant Officer Balakrishnan, who was originally jailed two months
for each of the two charges against him, had his sentence increased
to six months per charge.
The sentences were also to run concurrently.
This means he will have to serve only six months in jail.
During the appeal hearing, Chief Justice Yong said the accused
persons were a disgrace to any army, much less the Singapore
army.
When Sergeant Hu was dunked, he said they stood by and did nothing
and were enjoying it.
Chief Justice Yong described their acts as absolutely brutish and
sadistic. - CNA /ch
