By Selina Lum

TWO and a half hours before full-time national serviceman (NSF) Jeremy Tan was found lying unconscious at the foot of a camp building 3 1/2 years ago, he was sending text messages to another soldier to ask for forgiveness.

But the recipient of the SMSes, Mr Chew Zi Guo, then a platoon sergeant, told the High Court yesterday that he did not understand the 'weird' messages.

Mr Chew, 26, added that he was further baffled when, in a face-to-face encounter, a tearful Mr Tan blamed himself for 'changes' made to the boatman's training course when none had been made. He said he felt the younger soldier was 'unstable'.

About the case

THE parents of former full-time national serviceman Jeremy Tan have taken the Ministry of Defence to court, to seek disability compensation and full medical benefits for their son.

Mr Tan, now 26, has been comatose for more than three years after he was found unconscious in camp on Aug 3, 2005.

He was lying on a patch of grass at the foot of the block where his third-level bunk was located. It remains unclear how his injuries were caused.

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