Court hears breakup and gambling debts led officer to take service weapon after work
A former Certis auxiliary policeman in Singapore has been sentenced after taking a loaded service revolver to a shopping mall, in a case that raised serious concerns about firearms control, gambling-related distress, and mental health.
Officer Sentenced Over Loaded Revolver Incident
An off-duty Certis auxiliary policeman, Heng Jun Hao, 29, was sentenced on April 8 to six years, six months and two weeks in jail, along with six strokes of the cane, after he was found with a loaded service revolver at Bugis+ mall in 2024. Heng had pleaded guilty in October 2025 to unlawful possession of a firearm and a separate mischief charge. His arrest followed a large-scale police search involving more than 100 officers after the weapon was not returned at the end of his shift.
Court Heard Personal Crisis Behind Incident
Deputy Public Prosecutor Koh Yi Wen told the court that Heng had struggled with gambling since he was 20 and that the problem had worsened over time. On May 8, 2024, his girlfriend ended their relationship after discovering he had continued gambling despite promising to stop. The breakup reportedly left him devastated, and investigators later said he had told them he wanted to take his own life because he felt he had disappointed his family and girlfriend.
Weapon Taken After Shift At Changi
Heng, who joined Certis in October 2023 and was deployed to the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore at Changi Airport, reported for duty on May 9, 2024, and was issued his operational equipment, including a revolver, 10 rounds of ammunition, and a baton. Under standard procedure, five rounds were loaded into the firearm. After his shift ended, he returned to the Agora building, told his partner he needed to use the restroom, then placed the loaded revolver and baton into his backpack before taking a taxi to Sim Lim Square and later going to a cinema at Bugis+.
Massive Search Led To Mall Arrest
Certis received an automated alert after Heng failed to return his revolver more than 50 minutes after his shift ended. Internal searches failed to locate him, and police were informed at around 10pm. Officers eventually found him leaving the cinema at about 12.20am on May 10, 2024, and arrested him at Bugis+. Police earlier said he did not resist arrest and made no attempt to reach for the firearm, but the case still triggered major concern because of the risk posed by an unreturned loaded service weapon in a public area.
Second Arrest Followed Bail Violation
After Heng was released on bail in June 2024 with an electronic tag, authorities found in October that he had cut it off. Police later arrested him again at a store in Kallang. Prosecutors said he admitted damaging the tag because he wanted to avoid police tracking while facing fresh financial troubles after losing his job as a concierge. His lawyer from the Public Defender’s Office said Heng had no intention of harming others with the revolver, but the court still imposed a substantial sentence given the seriousness of the firearms offense.
The case underscores the severe legal consequences of mishandling firearms in Singapore, especially by trained security personnel entrusted with public safety responsibilities. For Singaporeans, it is also a reminder of how gambling addiction and emotional distress can spiral into serious criminal consequences when left unaddressed. For Indonesians and Singaporeans alike, the incident highlights the need for stronger support systems around mental health, debt stress, and high-responsibility professions where lapses can endanger the wider public.
Sources: Asia One (2026) , The Star (2026)
Keywords: Singapore Firearm Case, Certis Auxiliary Policeman, Loaded Revolver Bugis, Gambling Debt Singapore, Illegal Firearm Possession, Singapore Court Sentence
