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(Editor's note: This article has been updated following a clarification from MOS Faishal Ibrahim in Parliament on Feb. 27, 2023)
The Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to convene a Board of Inquiry (BOI) under the Civil Defence Act to conduct a review on the circumstances that led to Sgt1 Edward Go’s demise on Dec. 8.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Faishal Ibrahim was responding to a Parliamentary Question filed by Member of Parliament Murali Pillai on Feb. 24, who asked whether there will be a review of the circumstances leading to Go’s passing.
Murali also asked if there are any recommendations to be made to rectify any lapses in the firefighting operation that might be uncovered from the review.
BOI to be held after police investigations done
In response, Faishal said that the police is currently investigating Go’s death.
Upon completion, the police will inform the Coroner of their findings and the Coroner will consider the investigation and make a finding on the circumstances of Go’s demise.
He added that since the BOI is a fact finding body, it will only be held after the Coroner’s findings have been established.
“The BOI will then also be able to consider the Police and the Coroner’s findings, in the assessment of the matter,” he said.
The BOI will submit its report to the Minister for Home Affairs and will share the findings and recommendations at an appropriate juncture.
Clarification
On Feb. 27 in Parliament, Faishal made a clarification to his answer. He said:
"Thank you for allowing me to make a clarification.
With regard to my reply to the supplementary question asked by Mr Dennis Tan, during the oral reply for Parliamentary Question number 1 at the Sitting of 24 February 2023, I mentioned that there would be a Coroner’s Inquiry and that it would be public information.
I should clarify that the State Coroner may decide to hold a Coroner’s Inquiry, as I had previously shared in January. It will be held in Open Court and it will be public information, unless the Coroner has sufficient reason not to do so."
Background
On Dec. 8, the SCDF received a call about a fire at 91 Henderson Road. Go was part of the first response crew.
The 19-year-old full-time national serviceman (NSF) fell unconscious in the kitchen area during the operation. He was then brought out of the unit and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was administered on him.
An SCDF ambulance crew at the scene also used the automated external defibrillator on him and conveyed him to Singapore General Hospital (SGH). He was later pronounced dead at the hospital, SCDF wrote.
Go enlisted with the SCDF to serve his National Service on Jan. 5, 2022. He received a posthumous promotion to Sgt (1).
Top images via Mothership and MCI YouTube