An empty bullet cartridge from a 5.56mm assault rifle was found along Yishun Street 81 last Saturday night — presumably dropped by a Singapore Armed Forces national serviceman who snuck it out from camp.
A passer-by outside Orchid Park Secondary School had kicked the object and called the police after realizing that it was a spent round. According to STOMP, the discovery of the bullet casing resulted in the area being cordoned off by several police officers. Investigations are still ongoing.
The Singapore Armed Forces utilize the Singapore-made SAR 21 bullpup assault rifle, which uses 5.56mm rounds.
Singapore has one of the toughest gun control laws in the world. The Arm Offences Act decrees that unlawful possession or carrying of firearms is punishable with imprisonment and caning while using or attempting to use arms to commit crimes (even if no one is injured or killed) is punishable by death. The death penalty also applies to the offender’s accomplices present at the scene of the offense.
In this case, however, it seems likely that someone thought it’d be cool to keep a souvenir from a live firing range but accidentally dropped it.
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