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This guy attend the nirvana of chao keng. He chao keng until kena charge, now counter sue SAF instead. Hero!!!! 







Depressed NSman sues SAF over 'poor treatment'
28 Oct 2010
SOURCE: The Straits Times
A FULL-TIME national serviceman (NSF) is suing the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), claiming he was left suffering from paranoia and suicidal tendencies after being treated poorly when he injured his ankle during training.
Mr Kelvin Tan says he became “traumatised” and developed a phobia of military life after the medical officer who attended to him acted in a suspicious and hostile manner and failed to give him proper treatment.
The SAF denies negligence, saying Mr Tan was given appropriate medical care, including psychological counselling, but did not turn up for his appointments. It says Mr Tan – currently in detention charged with going absent without official leave – was suspected of abusing his medical leave, and had once been caught on closed-circuit television limping into an army medical centre but walking normally the moment he left. His mother, Madam Chua Gwek Eng, 53, is also seeking damages in the lawsuit, claiming she had to give up her polyclinic job in February to watch over her only son as she feared he would harm himself.
A pre-trial hearing was held at the High Court on Monday. It is not known how much Mr Tan and his mother are seeking, but damages at the High Court usually start at $250,000.
The saga began in October 2008 when Mr Tan, then 21, suffered severe pain after hurting his left ankle during basic military training in Pulau Tekong Camp. Court documents filed by his lawyer Looi Wan Hui claim Mr Tan subsequently sought specialist care at Alexandra Hospital. He was given a medical downgrade and posted to serve as a storeman with the 5th Singapore Infantry Regiment (5 SIR).
Mr Looi has filed two psychiatric reports to support his client’s claim he developed a phobia of military life. He also became depressed and was treated at the Institute of Mental Health in March last year. The SAF denies disregarding these reports.
State Counsel Peter Koy from the Attorney-General’s Chambers, which is representing the SAF, said Mr Tan was not denied proper medical treatment, or regarded with hostility. He was excused from basic training involving his lower limbs for a month and medically reviewed. Mr Koy said Mr Tan did not object to being posted as a storeman and had signed a form saying he did not wish to pursue any injury claim or report any injury.
After being posted to 5 SIR, Mr Tan was referred to the SAF Psychological Care Centre in February last year. He was also allowed “stay-out” arrangements to help him cope with military life. But he failed to keep subsequent appointments with the psychological care centre and the SAF Counselling Centre.
Mr Tan also agreed in January to undergo treatment at the SAF ward in Alexandra Hospital as a day-patient. The following month he absconded during a consultation. When he returned five days later, he refused in-patient treatment, claiming to be suffering anxiety about military uniforms.
Mr Koy said Mr Tan was believed to have repeatedly abused medical leave following his injury, going on leave without providing medical certificates or failing to return after his leave had expired.
On one occasion, Mr Tan said he could not come to camp because of a sprained ankle but was found to have reported sick with flu at a clinic outside camp.
His alleged abuse of leave led to his arrest at his home by military police in August. He was brought before a court martial on Monday, and his case was adjourned for three weeks. Mr Tan is being held at Kranji Detention Barracks. The High Court hearing was adjourned until next month.
http://thecourtroom.stomp.com.sg/stomp/courtroom/case_of_the_day/483750/depressed_nsman_sues_saf_over_poor_treatment.html