A senior technician at the Singapore Refining Company (SRC) has been sentenced to four months in jail for negligence stemming from a fatal gas leak incident in 2020, resulting in the death of an Indian national.
Leck Ching Hwa, 47, admitted his negligence in duties at the oil refinery plant on Jurong Island, as reported by The Straits Times.
The gas leak occurred on September 17, 2020, claiming the life of Palanivel Pandidurai, a 30-year-old Indian national. Palanivel and his colleague, Periyasamy Kolanginathan, were both employees of a contractor firm, PEC, working at the refinery when exposed to toxic hydrogen sulfide gas.
This gas, commonly associated with crude oil and natural gas production, caused them to collapse, with a third worker, Narayanan Murasoli, also collapsing while attempting to assist them.
While court documents did not disclose details about their nationalities and ages, all three were swiftly taken to the hospital.
Periyasamy and Narayanan survived, with Periyasamy released after sustaining burns covering a smaller area (9.5%), and Narayanan was discharged within three days due to chemical injuries to his eyes and abrasions.
However, Palanivel suffered severe chemical burns covering 40% of his body, leading to multiple organ failure and his eventual passing five days later on September 22, 2020.
Ministry of Manpower prosecuting officer Melvyn Low provided insights into the severity of Palanivel's injuries, highlighting the tragic consequences of the gas leak incident.
