March 07, 11:57 PM 
514 Chai Chee Lane 03-16, Singapore 469029 In a Facebook post late on Monday night, March 7, 2016, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said that the Ministry of Defence "should waive the costs to the family" of Private Dominique Sarron Lee who filed a civil suit.
He said he has informed Mindef and the Singapore Armed Forces staff.
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Posted by Ng Eng Hen on Monday, March 7, 2016
This post came merely nine hours after the SAF's clarifications on Facebook regarding the tragic case of the late Private Lee, who died in 2012 from an allergic reaction to smoke grenades during a military exercise.
In SAF's post, they reminded Singaporeans about the key findings from the Committee of Inquiry (COI) in 2012 and the Coroner’s Inquiry (CI) in 2013, and revealed how they supported Lee's family.
Court case dismissed
The case, which occurred nearly four years ago, came into prominence after its recent hearing in High Court (March 3). The High Court dismissed the lawsuit brought against the SAF and two of its officers by the family of Private Lee.
According to a widely circulated letter by Felicia Seah, Lee’s mother, the court ruled that the family has to pay for the legal costs of $22,000 to the three defendents.
Ng's reasons for waiving the costs
Ng defended the High Court judgement, saying that it was based on sound legal grounds and precedents.
However, he added that Mindef "need not add to the pain and anguish of the family of the late PTE Lee".
But the timing of two Mindef posts in one day will raise some questions
After all, it took Mindef five days to finally clarify and restate its previous positions on the case.
Perhaps 10.45pm is the peak timing for Singaporeans surfing online, but it is uncharacteristic for a Minister to announce an important decision at such a late hour on Facebook, after the media's off stone time.
During these past five days, Seah had penned a letter, met Singapore Democratic Party leader Chee Soon Juan and a Singaporean had already launched a fundraising campaign to defray the legal costs Lee’s family incurred.
Let's hope that the negative public opinion was not Minister Ng's key consideration in making the decision.
Or we will have many public trials by social media in future.
Related articles:
Mother of late NSF who died in 2012 during military exercise turns to SDP’s Chee Soon Juan for help
Want to help Dominique Sarron Lee’s family? You can donate money to support them
Mother pens letter to late son who died during National Service in 2012 for failing him
Top photo from Ng Eng Hen Facebook.
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