Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said on Monday (10 October) that all personnel including National Servicemen taking their Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) will be required to undergo biometric fingerprinting to enter Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) camps by 2018.
Mr Ng was responding to Dr Lee Bee Wah’s question on the recent case where a 38-year-old NSman was jailed for two months for taking the Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) on behalf of another NSman.
The impersonation, which occurred in 2014, was done in exchange for a cut of the monetary rewards handed out by MINDEF. The man had reportedly been approached by a third NSman who had brokered the deal between the two NSmen.
Dr Ng said that a total of 58 SAF NSmen, six SCDF NSmen and five SPF NSmen had been disciplined for such offences.
He stated that verification measures have since been stepped up at the camp gate, and at IPPT registration counters and stations as the result of the incident.
“In the cases involving cheating of IPPT, the NSmen had handed over their identity card to the impersonator to use to enter the camp and take the IPPT. Facial checks are conducted at entry points by sentry guards, but subject to human error especially when large numbers are processed during IPPT sessions,” he said.
To strengthen security, biometric fingerprinting has been progressively introduced at SAF camps since last year.
“Every serviceman is expected to uphold a high standard of integrity and those caught cheating in the IPPT are punished. Officers and warrant officers caught cheating are no longer fit to command and can have their ranks removed,” he added.