SINGAPORE - An independent committee has been formed to look into the circumstances that led to the death of full-time national serviceman, Corporal First Class Dave Lee Han Xuan.

The police will also investigate his death and a coroner's inquiry may also be held, depending on the outcome of the police investigation.

The Committee of Inquiry (COI) will be headed by a cluster superintendent from the Ministry of Education. A medical specialist from the Government will also be a member of the committee, said the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) in a statement on Wednesday evening (May 2).

It added: "The COI has full powers and access to information and personnel to investigate the circumstances leading to the death, determine the contributory factors and make recommendations to rectify any lapses uncovered."

The ministry noted that recommendations from previous COIs have made Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) training safer.

The recommendations included setting up external panels comprising safety experts to review and advise the SAF on safety policies, systems and best practices.

Corporal Lee died on Monday after being warded in Changi General Hospital on April 18 for heatstroke during his training to be a Guardsman at the 1st Battalion Singapore Guards.

The 19-year-old enlisted on Jan 5 and completed his Basic Military Training on March 11.

Mindef said on Tuesday that he had received a posthumous promotion to the rank of Corporal First Class.

It is Mindef's practice to convene COIs to investigate unnatural deaths involving NSmen.