Officer faces charges for leaving a national serviceman to fight a fire alone, leading to his death.
SINGAPORE – A Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) officer, Warrant Officer 2 Muhammad Kamil Mohamed Yasin, is set to plead guilty to charges related to the death of a full-time national serviceman (NSF), Sergeant 1 Edward H. Go, who died while fighting a fire alone.
Incident Details
On Dec 8, 2022, Sergeant Go, 19, suffocated while battling a blaze at Block 91 Henderson Road after his air cylinder ran out. Kamil, 39, allegedly left Go alone in the burning flat and failed to inform anyone, breaching standard firefighting protocols. This is considered the first firefighter death during an SCDF firefighting operation.
The police investigation concluded that Go’s death was caused by suffocation due to the depletion of his air cylinder, and no equipment malfunction was involved.
Legal Proceedings
Kamil, who was charged in October 2023 and removed from front-line duties, is scheduled to plead guilty on Jan 15, 2025. He faces one charge of causing grievous hurt by a rash act endangering life or personal safety. If convicted, Kamil could face up to four years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.
Kamil’s case is being represented by criminal lawyer Ramesh Tiwary, and it will be heard by District Judge Shawn Ho.
SCDF Investigation and Impact
Following the incident, the SCDF confirmed that a second officer is under investigation for failing to ensure the safety of the operation when he took over command. SCDF officials have indicated that further internal actions will depend on the outcome of Kamil’s case.
Sergeant Go, a fit and highly qualified firefighter, had attended nearly 60 fire and rescue calls before the incident. His tragic death came just months before the death of Captain Kenneth Tay Xue Qin in May 2024, the second SCDF firefighter to die in the line of duty.
