Jermyn Chow, the defence correspondent of The Straits Times who got the Private Dominique Sarron Lee scoops that even competitor TODAY has to carry, found out something new today.

The family of the late Lee, who died in 2012 from an allergic reaction to smoke grenades during a military exercise, lost their civil lawsuit that was brought against the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and two of its officers last week (March 3, 2016).

This week, SAF clarified the issues on Facebook (Mar 7), with Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen announcing on his Facebook that MINDEF should waive the legal costs that the family had to pay.

Officer involved was punished

Chow found out that Major Chia Thye Siong, one of the two officers involved in the case, was punished.

"The Straits Times understands that Maj Chia's promotion was already held back by more than a year."

This was revealed in his hard-hitting commentary in Straits Times ("Family's failed bid to sue SAF sparks debate", Mar 10) today.

Chow really doesn't give chance to MINDEF. Here are some zingers in his commentary:

1. "Not surprisingly, this has given rise to public unease, not least since this is a society where half the population does national service. Being tight-lipped has been seen by some as a reflection of how the military looks out for its own."

2. "Initially, it issued only a pithy statement last Thursday about supporting Pte Lee's family through their ordeal, but stopped short of addressing any of the swirling speculations about its investigations." (This was likely to be in reference to MINDEF's statement on the court case last week).

3. "There are those who will cheer Mindef's commitment to assisting Pte Lee's family. But there will also be some who wonder if the good intentions were simply to avert a public relations disaster which resulted from the very public pleas made by an anguished mother who lost her son."

4. "How much compensation was offered to the family for Pte Lee's death? What were the punishments handed to the officers found guilty? What requests from the family did Mindef reject and why?"

5. "Parents today are far more supportive of national service than in the past...While everyone knows that this cannot be done without risks to life and limb, parents expect that the utmost will be done to keep their sons safe. And when things go wrong, as they sometimes will, parents will demand answers".

In other news, TODAY reported that all legal costs, amounting to S$22,000, will be waived for Lee's family.

Related articles:

Kudos to The Straits Times for doggedly chasing Mindef to reveal more info about Dominique Sarron Lee case

Dominique Sarron Lee’s family opts to donate money raised in campaign to School Pocket Money Fund

Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said Mindef ‘should waive the costs to the family’

Want to help Dominique Sarron Lee’s family? You can donate money to support them

5 key points by SAF following mum’s viral letter to late son who died during National Service in 2012

Mother of late NSF who died in 2012 during military exercise turns to SDP’s Chee Soon Juan for help

Mother pens letter to late son who died during National Service in 2012 for failing him

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