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3 men plead guilty to pinning NSF down on bed and using criminal force on him
Three former full-time national servicemen with the Singapore Police Force pleaded guilty to using criminal force against junior servicemen in incidents described in court as group hazing. The cases matter because the victims were targeted by more senior field instructors, whose position of authority made it harder for them to resist or respond.
In November 2023, the three men pinned a 21-year-old permanent resident on his bunk and took turns tapping their private parts against his arms and legs; he said he felt embarrassed and disgusted. One of the men also pleaded guilty to offences against a second serviceman, including licking his neck and touching his nipple. Prosecutors sought short detention and community service orders, while the court called for reports on the men’s suitability for community service and adjourned sentencing.
In short
- Three former police NSFs admitted to hazing a junior serviceman.
- They pinned him down and touched him with their private parts.
- One man also admitted to separate offences against another serviceman.
Explained simply
National service is compulsory for most male Singapore citizens and permanent residents, and recruits serve in the armed forces, police or civil defence. In the police force, full-time national servicemen may later take on roles such as field instructors, supervising and training junior servicemen.
Hazing is mistreatment carried out under the guise of group bonding or initiation. When it involves people in positions of authority, junior servicemen may find it difficult to refuse or report what is happening. Such cases raise questions about how people in uniform are held to rules of conduct and how those serving under them are protected.