22-7-2023 (SINGAPORE) Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam has called for a thorough investigation by the Singapore Police Force (SPF) into claims made by a police officer who alleged facing racial discrimination, bullying, and a toxic work culture at the workplace, among other serious allegations.
The call for investigation follows an incident reported on Friday (Jul 21) in which a 36-year-old man, identified as a police officer, was found lying motionless at the foot of a Housing Board block in Yishun Avenue 6. The officer was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead on the same day.
In a Facebook post on Friday evening, Minister Shanmugam revealed the officer’s identity as Uvaraja Gopal and extended his deepest condolences to the bereaved family. Additionally, he highlighted the seriousness of the officer’s claims and announced that he had requested the police to thoroughly investigate the matter.
The deceased officer’s Facebook post, which was later taken down but widely circulated on Reddit through screenshots, shed light on the alleged discrimination and toxicity he faced at his workplace. He also mentioned seeking help but being ignored and rejected.
Minister Shanmugam reiterated the government’s policy of non-discrimination and emphasized that all officers have the right to fair treatment. He asserted that the SPF, as an organization, is committed to upholding this principle and will diligently investigate the facts surrounding the officer’s claims.
In response to the officer’s post, the police acknowledged being “aware” of the challenges faced by their personnel and stated that they had already provided various forms of assistance to the officer in question. The police assured that they would conduct a comprehensive investigation into all the issues raised in the officer’s Facebook post.
