SCDF probes dormitory-rampage videos

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) has assured the public that it will "leave no stone unturned" in investigating two videos circulating online that show its personnel trashing a dormitory, swearing and smoking.

In a one-minute clip uploaded to Facebook on Monday afternoon, the men can be seen in the dormitory surrounded by upturned bed frames and mattresses, with belongings strewn all over the floor.

A second clip uploaded yesterday showed the personnel, wearing uniforms that suggest they are sergeants, cheering and filming themselves at the Civil Defence Academy in Jalan Bahar, as a man smears black liquid - believed to be shoe polish - on the floor.

Many netizens urged SCDF to punish the men involved, saying their actions reflected poorly on the force.

Colonel Abdul Razak, director of SCDF's Public Affairs Department, said the force is "as perturbed as the online viewers or members of the public on the matter".

He added: "Let me stress that this is an isolated incident of this nature. It does not reflect the culture, the discipline, the decorum and conduct of SCDF officers and men, be it our frontline NSFs (national servicemen) and regulars, or even our operationally ready NSmen (operationally ready national servicemen).

"Let me assure you that we take this matter very seriously, and will leave no stone unturned, and will update you on the outcome."

At the start of the video, the person filming narrates: "It's the last day man, look at the dorm. It's a ruckus, it's a ruckus - the dorm is in a ruckus man."

Some personnel can be seen smoking in the dormitory, while others throw items onto a pile of broken bed frames, cupboards, fans, mattresses and chairs in a corner of the room.

One man pours liquid from a drink packet onto the floor before flinging the packet away.

The second minute-long video was uploaded by Facebook group Rilek1Corner yesterday.

In it, men can be heard cheering and yelling "P O P" - short for passing out parade, which signals that trainees have completed their basic military training, basic police training or basic rescue training.

The clip also shows three personnel using their smartphones to record their surroundings.

Property agent Jeffrey Ho, 54, was among members of the public outraged by the videos.

He said: "Maybe they were very happy or drunk, but they're not supposed to be damaging property and smoking. These are punishable offences, so they should know the consequences."

Lecturer Christine Keung, 55, said: "SCDF needs to follow up and conduct disciplinary action on all the officers involved. I cannot believe our uniform group officers are behaving this way."

ateng@sph.com.sg

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