The three former SMRT bus drivers rebutted SMRT's claim that they were not contactable after they were released on bail on Dec 6 last year. SMRT said on Wednesday that the trio were fired for failing to show up to work after their release.

In a press statement, Chinese nationals He Jun Ling, Liu Xiang Ying and Gao Yue Qiang said: "SMRT continues to fail to take responsibility for their numerous actions that clearly indicate they were no longer interested in keeping us as employees even before the Board of Inquiry was to be convened."

They accused the transport operator of evading responsibility by saying that it was the dormitory management's decision to de-activate their access cards and put up notices, banning them from entering the dormitory.

"Instead of continuing to shift the blame, SMRT should clearly clarify: did they or did they not have control over their dormitory management's actions?" the trio wrote. "SMRT's actions in making this issue public are extremely prejudicial to our ongoing court case."