SINGAPORE: Security Officer Pleads Guilty

In a shocking lapse of duty, 49-year-old security officer Durendran Vicknesh Venkatraman pleaded guilty on December 12 to serious charges stemming from his failure to properly manage a dummy bomb during a security exercise, setting off an emergency response from multiple law enforcement agencies.

Charges and Incident Details

Durendran faced charges for abandoning his post at Sing Industrial Complex for over five hours and for falsifying entries in his duty logbook. The incident began as part of a "red team" exercise—a common strategy to test security protocols through simulated attacks. However, the exercise quickly spiraled into chaos when a bomb threat was reported, leading the Singapore Police Force and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) to mobilize their units.

Socializing instead of Standing Guard

In a court hearing, Deputy Public Prosecutor Dan Pan revealed that Durendran, a licensed security officer with 13 years of experience working part-time for One Imperial Security, went out to socialize without notifying anyone of his whereabouts. He left his post on the night of January 4, 2024, taking off to meet friends at Oxley Tower, which is more than 7 kilometers away.

Dummy Bomb Placement Leads to Emergency

During his absence, the external security consultants conducting the exercise placed a dummy improvised explosive device (IED), which consisted of a benign paper bag with red tubes and wires, in the parking area next to the guardhouse. They left the scene, neglecting to inform Durendran or anyone in charge about the fake bomb upon realizing he was not at his station.

Failed Directives and False Log Entries

Upon his return just after 5 a.m., Durendran was unaware of the dummy bomb's presence. After a call from the security consultants instructed him to dispose of the device, he failed to act on the directive and even left false information in the duty log, claiming he maintained presence at the guardhouse throughout the night.

Police Response and Public Alarm

The next officer on duty, discovering the fake IED, promptly alerted the police. This prompted a large-scale response involving the Criminal Investigation Department, several police divisions, and even the K-9 Unit trained to detect explosives. The situation led to traffic being diverted and more than 100 individuals being stopped from entering the complex while investigations were conducted, causing significant disruption.

Legal Consequences Await

Durendran's actions not only violated his obligations but also posed a threatening scenario that raised public alarm. He was subsequently arrested on April 8, facing potential penalties of up to three months in jail and fines for being absent without valid reason, along with up to 10 years in prison for the fraudulent entries in his logbook.

Lessons Learned?

As Deputy Public Prosecutor Pan noted, this incident underscores the critical responsibilities associated with security work, especially in high-stakes environments like industrial parks. The court proceedings are set to resume on December 17, as Durendran awaits sentencing.

This alarming case serves as a stark reminder that negligence in security operations can lead to serious consequences, both for individuals and the public they are meant to protect. Will more stringent measures and trainings be introduced to prevent such incidents in the future? Only time will tell.