SCDF Officers Fight Back After Deadly Pump Well Incident
What Went Down
On May 13 last year, a tragic celebration at the Tuas View Fire Station turned into a nightmare. 22‑year‑old Corporal Kok Yuen Chin—a Malaysian national and Singapore permanent resident—was tossed into a pump well by a group of fellow servicemen as they toasted his impending operationally ready date (ORD).
Despite 36 minutes of frantic effort, he couldn’t be rescued in time and drowned.
The Officers on the Spot
The two officers who were in command positions that night are now facing court. Lieutenant Kenneth Chong Chee Boon, 38, served as the station commander, while First Senior Warrant Officer Nazhan Mohamed Nazi, 40, was the deputy commander.
They are accused of letting the group pressure Cpl Kok into the well, thereby failing to stop the fatal act.
Trial Timeline
Both men appeared in court on Monday, June 10 and the trial is slated to last about two weeks. The prosecution will call several SCDF officers who were on duty that evening as witnesses.
Earlier Charges and Sentences
- In July last year, all three officers were charged with ingraining a rash act by illegal omission that caused grievous harm.
- Earlier in the same year, SCDF Staff Sergeant Muhammad Nur Fatwa Mahmood received a 13‑week jail sentence for pushing Cpl Kok into the well and for obstructing justice by urging another officer to delete video footage.
- Another Staff Sergeant Adighazali Suhaimi was jailed for four weeks in December after he deleted the same video clip.
Key Takeaway
It’s a stark reminder of how a moment of reckless celebration can spiral into tragedy—and how the law is watching every rung of the chain of command.
First published by The Straits Times. Permission required for reproduction.
