On July 7, 2025, a 39-year-old former auxiliary police officer, Muhammad Mukhlis Kamis, was sentenced to two months’ jail for committing a rash act that endangered personal safety. The incident occurred on November 22, 2023, inside the Sats Auxiliary Police Armoury at the Singapore Air Freight Terminal Core C Building. Mukhlis, who was then serving as an armourer with Sats Security Services, discharged a live round into a countertop after carelessly handling a revolver while on duty.
Mukhlis, who held the rank of sergeant, had served as an armourer for five years before the incident. His role involved issuing firearms and equipment to auxiliary police officers. On the morning of the incident, Corporal Zulkarnaen Ramli arrived at the armoury to collect his standard-issue equipment, which included a Taurus revolver, 10 rounds of 0.38mm ammunition, an extendable baton, and a pair of handcuffs.
Mukhlis initially issued only nine rounds of ammunition. When Cpl Zulkarnaen pointed out the discrepancy, Mukhlis retrieved a bullet from beneath the countertop. Instead of issuing it directly, he tossed the round into the air in a moment of reckless playfulness, caught it with his left hand, and inserted it into the revolver. He then spun the cylinder and closed it, continuing to hold the revolver in his right hand, pointing it downward at the countertop between himself and Cpl Zulkarnaen.
Sensing danger, Cpl Zulkarnaen stepped back. Moments later, Mukhlis placed his finger on the trigger and pulled it, firing a live round directly into the countertop. Thankfully, no one was injured in the incident. According to Deputy Public Prosecutor Joseph Gwee, the entire sequence of events—from retrieving and tossing the bullet to firing the shot—lasted only about five seconds.
Following the discharge, Mukhlis promptly informed his superiors and was subsequently arrested. There were no repair costs incurred from the damage to the countertop, and no one was harmed physically, but the act was taken seriously due to the extreme risk involved.
The prosecution requested a sentence of three to four months' jail, highlighting Mukhlis’ certified role as an armourer and the trust placed in him to manage and distribute weapons responsibly. DPP Gwee emphasised the danger of the incident, noting that the weapon was a loaded revolver and that Mukhlis’ actions, though perhaps playful in intent, could have led to serious injury or death.
In defence, Mukhlis’ lawyer, Mr Azri Imran Tan, urged for a more lenient sentence of one to two months’ imprisonment. Mr Tan acknowledged the seriousness of his client’s actions and stated that Mukhlis could not fully explain what compelled him to behave so recklessly. He added that Mukhlis recognised the gravity of his mistake and did not attempt to justify it. Mr Tan also mentioned that Mukhlis had previously received awards for professionalism and safety in the course of his duties, suggesting that this was an uncharacteristic lapse in judgment.
Since the incident, Mukhlis has been dismissed from his position at Sats Security Services. The court ultimately imposed a two-month jail sentence, taking into account both the recklessness of the act and the lack of physical harm caused.
Under Singapore law, a person convicted of committing a rash act endangering personal safety can be sentenced to a jail term of up to six months, fined up to S$2,500, or both. The court’s decision reflects a balance between the serious nature of firearm safety violations and the absence of actual injury in this particular case.
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