Dave Teo

Corporal Dave Teo Ming was a Full Time National Serviceman (NSF) from the 1st Singapore Infantry Regiment who gained national headlines when, on 2 September 2007, he went absent without official leave (AWOL) with his SAR-21 assault rifle from Mandai Hill Camp in Singapore.^[1][2]

He was arrested by the police in possession of the assault rifle and a knife twenty hours later in the Orchard Road shopping district.^[3][4] Facing charges in the High Court, Teo was sentenced to 9 years and 2 months' imprisonment and 18 strokes of the cane for various weapon charges.^[5][6] The incident has also led to the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) reviewing and tightening security procedures in its army camps.^[7][8]

Absence without official leave

On 2 September 2007 at 11.59pm, Teo was discovered to be missing from Mandai Hill Camp with his SAR-21 assault rifle and five live rounds that were issued to him for guard duty. The Military Police Command was called in at 3.30am to conduct a search within the camp premises, but after finding that he was no longer in camp the Singapore Police Force was contacted at 5.45am to initiate an island wide manhunt with 200 officers.

Twenty hours after Teo went absent without official leave (AWOL), he was captured by the Police Special Tactics and Rescue in the third floor toilet of Orchard Cineleisure in Orchard Road, a popular shopping district for youth. The arrest occurred so quickly that security guards were not aware of it.^[3] Recovered from him were eight 5.56mm rounds (the extra three live rounds were found to be taken from a live-firing exercise in August),^[5] and the SAR-21 rifle. A 40 cm knife was found later that was believed to belong to Teo.

It was believed that Teo and an accomplice, Ong Boon Jun, spent their night in a hotel in Geylang. Ong was also later arrested and faces similar charges. Shortly after both arrests, the room was raided by the police for evidence.^[9]

The Ministry of Defense released a press release shortly after his capture acknowledging the incident, and revealed that he was due to complete his National Service stint in October 2007, barely less than a month.^[10] This was the first time in more than 20 years where a serviceman went AWOL with a live rifle, the last one being on 6 August 1984 on which Teo Yong Kuan from the 30th Singapore Combat Engineering Battalion in Khatib Camp, was involved in stealing an AR-15 and 30 live rounds. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 5 years' jail and 12 strokes of the cane on 12 May 1986.^[3][11]

Investigation and charge

Initially after his arrest, there were online speculations on the reasons Teo went AWOL. Background checks on blogs suggested that he might have had a failed relationship with his girlfriend Crystal Liew.^[12] On 5 September 2007, The Straits Times published on its cover page an interview with Liew on her relationship with Teo.^[13] In the interview, she claimed that they broke off because Teo was possessive, and that subsequently death threats were made by him against her and her family.^[13]

An investigation into the incident revealed lapses in camp security that concerned the Parliament.^[7][14] Teo was believed to have climbed out of a second floor window and escaped from the sight of sentries and CCTV, exploiting a weakness in the guardroom's design.^[8] The physical security of all camps have since undergone review and reinforcement, with the Mandai Hill Camp in particular now filled with metal grilles and fish-eye mirrors.^[8]

Teo and Ong faced multiple charges under the Arms Offences Act. Two more charges were added from the original which involved the 40 cm knife and the eight 5.56mm rounds.^[5][15][16] Teo pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the trial took place before the High Court for months.^[17] Ong was sentenced in February 2008 to 6.5 years' imprisonment and six strokes of the cane after he was found guilty for failing to report Teo's possession of the rifle to police,^[18] while Teo was subsequently sentenced in July 2008 to 9 years' imprisonment and 18 strokes of the cane.^[6]

References

1. ^ "NSF arrested for leaving camp with rifle, bullets", The Straits Times, Singapore, 4 September 2007.
2. ^ Valarie Tan, "Missing armed NSman caught in Orchard Road", Channel NewsAsia, Singapore, 3 September 2007.
3. ^ ^{a b c} David Boey and Jermyn Chow, "Nabbed in Orchard Rd after hunt: NSF with rifle, ammo", The Straits Times, 4 September 2007.
4. ^ "Armed and AWOL: Nabbed NS man's story unfolds", The Straits Times, 5 September 2007.
5. ^ ^{a b c} David Boey, "AWOL soldier charged with stealing weapon", The Straits Times, 6 September 2007.
6. ^ ^{a b} "NSman who stole rifle gets more than 9 years' jail, 18 strokes", Channel NewsAsia, Singapore, 7 July 2008.
7. ^ ^{a b} Reply by Minister Teo Chee Hean to Parliamentary Questions on CPL Dave Teo, Teo Chee Hean, Ministry of Defense Singapore, 17 September 2007.
8. ^ ^{a b c} David Boey, "Several lapses led to missing rifle incident", The Straits Times, 18 September 2007.
9. ^ Leong Wee Keat, "His Geylang hideout", Today, Singapore, 6 September 2007.
10. ^ Missing SAF Serviceman Apprehended, Ministry of Defense Singapore Press Release, 3 September 2007
11. ^ Ben Davidson, "NS man gets 5 years and 12 strokes for theft of rifle, bullets", The Straits Times, Singapore, 13 May 1986, p. 7.
12. ^ Valarie Tan, "Internet abuzz with speculation over armed NSman arrested in Orchard", Channel NewsAsia, Singapore, 4 September 2007.
13. ^ ^{a b} Jermyn Chow and David Boey, "Failed relationship may have led soldier to go AWOL with rifle", The Straits Times, 5 September 2007, p. 1.
14. ^ Leong Wee Keat, "Questions raised as NSman faces charges", Today, Singapore, 5 September 2007.
15. ^ Leong Wee Keat, "NSman found with knife, too", Today, 13 September 2007.
16. ^ "AWOL armed NSman faces two new charges Teo", Channel NewsAsia, 12 September 2007.
17. ^ Jermyn Chow, "Soldier not expected to plead guilty to stealing weapon", The Straits Times, 12 September 2007.
18. ^ Wong Mun Wai, "AWOL NSman Teo's accomplice gets 6.5 years' jail, 6 strokes of cane", Channel NewsAsia, Singapore, 25 February 2008.

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