Singapore Firefighters Face Justice After Tragic Ragging Incident
The Night of May 13
Picture a fire station buzzing with cheerful chatter on May 13: colleagues laughing, a cake, a plaque, and the hopeful promise of a new recruit reaching “operationally ready” in just three days. The star of the evening? Corporal Kok Yuen Chin, a 22‑year‑old full‑time national serviceman from Malaysia. But behind the smiles, a dark ritual—a rag‑gading tradition—unfolded that would end in tragedy.
Although Kok tried to push back, a handful of officers, led by Staff Sergeant Adighazali Suhaimi (33) and Staff Sergeant Muhammad Nur Fatwa Mahmood (34), hauled him into a pump‑well. A nasty plunge followed; the worst part was that the heartbeat‑clipping sound in a flip‑sheet turned into a silent goodbye.
Legal Fallout
Adighazali was the first to admit guilt. He confessed to deleting crucial footage that could have helped the investigation. A month in jail was the consequence—short, but enough to send a clear message: tampering isn’t funny.
For the second one, a more severe sentence was handed out. Nur Fatwa admitted to pushing Kok and also urged Adighazali to scrub the video. He received 12 months and 4 weeks in prison—a stark reminder that actions, even in jest, have serious repercussions.
Other Officers Await Verdicts
- Mohamed Farid Mohd Saleh (34)
- Kenneth Chong Chee Boon (38)
- Nazhan Mohamed Nazi (40) – has indicated he’s ready for trial.
The court records show the club of officers as a group that celebrated success and also conjured a grim prank. In the aftermath, the SCDF vowed to put an end to pump‑well stalking: “we’ll decommission wells and slashing ragging,” they announced.
Heartfelt Reflections
Cracking jokes can be harmless. But when you mix it with an environment that demands trust and safety, in a military context, the consequences spiral inward. The community mourns, and a cautionary tale is etched into the history of the Singapore Civil Defence Force.
Even as the verdicts are finalized and the legal process settles, the market of “we’ll keep the wells in the underworld” is pretty real. Let’s remember to keep those rope‑ways safe and those jokes funny—but not at the cost of a life.
