A tragic case highlighting mental health concerns and the impact of fraud.
Singapore — An NS officer who tragically died from a gunshot wound while serving in the police Special Operations Command (SOC) had fallen victim to an employment scam and had disclosed suicidal thoughts to his family and colleagues.
Finnegan Tan Yao Jie, 21, was discovered dead on August 30, 2021, in a toilet cubicle at the Special Operations Command, with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head from a service pistol he had retrieved from the police armoury. The coroner’s inquest into the case commenced today (Feb 1), revealing disturbing details about Tan’s mental state leading up to the incident.
On Instagram, Tan had posted that he was contemplating ending his life due to several reasons, including being scammed and feeling animosity toward a former classmate. He had previously reported to the police that he had lost over $10,200 in an employment scam, with $7,000 of that amount borrowed from his father, leaving him with a sense of guilt and despair.
During the Lunar New Year, Tan confided in his family about his suicidal thoughts. Additionally, in the months prior to his death, he had searched online for information related to suicide methods, gun use, and how to write a will.
Tan’s superiors recognized that he was emotionally distressed after falling victim to the scam and considered restricting his access to firearms. However, after observing him, they did not perceive any signs of suicidal ideation or depression, which led to their decision to allow him to retain his firearm while advising other team members to monitor his well-being. Tragically, before any further action could be taken, Tan took his own life.
State Coroner Adam Nakhoda has requested that the investigating officer provide documentation to clarify the context of Tan’s Instagram post and to determine if any procedural changes have been implemented following this incident. The findings will be announced at a later date.
