Investigations into the death of full-time National Serviceman Joe Foo Wei Rong found that he had been given medical leave the day before he died but he did not inform officials about it.

The Defence Ministry said in a statement released on Thursday that a medical certificate dated September 28, 2008 was found in Private Foo’s personal bunk cupboard after his death. The medical centre had no documentation of his medical certificate.

Soldiers are required to submit certifications of their medical conditions at the centre.

Private Foo had seen a doctor at the Singapore General Hospital on Sunday. He was supposed to rest from September 28 to 29 for “sprains and strains of the knee and leg”, and to be given light duties for the subsequent four days.

The former Singapore Polytechnic student died on Tuesday while doing chin-ups at Lim Chu Kang camp.

It is the first time a full-time serviceman died while doing basic routine exercise.