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ARMY Corporal Dave Teo Ming, who allegedly walked out of camp with a loaded rifle 10 days ago, is not expected to plead guilty today when he returns to court.
He is charged with stealing a weapon under the Arms Offences Act and faces a jail term of between five and 20 years and caning.
His lawyer, Mr Abdul Aziz Yatim, told The Straits Times that he intends to ask the court to order his client to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
He explained: 'His family felt that Dave seemed out-of-character five months ago, after his break-up with his girlfriend.'
Teo, an infantry rifleman with the 1st Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment, was charged last Wednesday with stealing an SAR-21 assault rifle and several 5.56mm bullets for the weapon.
He was said to have gone absent without leave, or AWOL, with his loaded weapon from the Mandai Hill Camp on Sept 2, while on guard duty.
A massive islandwide manhunt involving some 200 police officers was launched before Teo was arrested in a toilet at the Orchard Cineleisure mall some 20 hours later.
The loaded rifle was found with him.
Teo is currently being held in remand. Yesterday, his family members got to see him, as the police had wrapped up their investigations.
Among the visitors - his 69-year-old grandmother, Madam Tan Ah Hoon.
Teo's relatives said she has been unwell and is unlikely to attend today's hearing. But she saw him last evening in an effort to keep her pledge to support him through the legal process, no matter how long the trial stretches.
Also appearing in court will be Teo's acquaintance, 21-year-old Ong Boon Jun, who has been charged with keeping mum even though he knew that Teo had a weapon with him.
He faces a jail term of between five and 14 years and caning.
jermync@sph.com.sg
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