Teen’s guardians settle suit with East Coast Town Council, EM Services over 2021 fatal Bedok hoop collapse

SINGAPORE: The guardians of a teenager who died in 2021 after a basketball backboard structure collapsed on him have reached a settlement in a civil suit filed against East Coast Town Council (ECTC) and EM Services, a real estate management firm.

The guardians of 17-year-old Mohd Ridwan had filed the claim in July 2024, seeking $150,000 in damages from both parties.

The matter was reportedly settled in April 2025 for an undisclosed amount under a non-disclosure agreement, according to state media The Straits Times.

Lawyers K. Anparasan and Grace Tan from WhiteFern, representing ECTC, said: “We wish to state that the civil proceedings have been amicably resolved on a confidential basis.”

In response to queries, a spokesperson for ECTC said: “We have extended our deepest sympathies and support to his family. Our thoughts remain with his loved ones.”

Ridwan’s guardians were represented by Thirumurthy Ayernaar Pambayan of Murthy & Co, while CIVIC Legal represented EM Services.

The Fatal Incident

Ridwan, a student at the Institute of Technical Education College Central, was playing basketball at a court near Block 18 Bedok South Road on 26 July 2021 when tragedy struck.

He had briefly hung from the rim after making a dunk when the basketball hoop suddenly gave way, collapsing on him.

He was found unconscious and rushed to Changi General Hospital, where he succumbed to a head injury later that evening.

A coroner’s inquiry into his death opened on 10 November, revealing multiple safety lapses that contributed to the fatal accident.

Safety Lapses and Structural Failures

Investigations found that the hoop had broken at a welded joint, and the structure lacked reinforcement to maintain stability.

Crucially, there had been no professional engineer overseeing its installation — a key procedural omission.

A police investigation officer (IO) testified that two men playing at the same court had earlier noticed one of the hoops sinking and moved to the opposite end to continue their game.

Ridwan, unaware of the instability, grabbed the rim of the compromised hoop moments before it collapsed.

His friends tried to lift the fallen frame while bystanders called the police and ambulance, but he could not be saved.

Contractor and Supplier Chain

The basketball court had undergone renovation works in March 2020, completed the following month as part of ECTC’s repair programme.

The main contractor, TMS Alliances, had subcontracted the installation to KAF Resources, a company specialising in playground equipment. The hoops were supplied by Malaysian firm Velocity Sports Equipment.

During the inquiry, it emerged that the hoop at Block 18 Bedok South Road was not the only unstable structure installed under the same project.

In March 2020, KAF Resources had discovered that another hoop near Block 33 Bedok South was unstable.

When informed, Velocity Sports Equipment reportedly dismissed the concern, claiming it was “normal” for aluminium hoops to be slightly unstable. The issue was never rectified.

Absence of Engineer Oversight

Court proceedings revealed that no professional engineer had been engaged for the basketball hoop installation, despite a contractual clause requiring one.

The IO told the court that an engineer’s involvement would have ensured proper welding and post-installation inspections.

TMS Alliances claimed it was unaware of the requirement and did not verify whether KAF Resources had engaged an engineer.

Although both TMS Alliances and ECTC conducted visual inspections, neither checked for professional certification of the structural work.

A Health Sciences Authority report later indicated that inconsistent welding and the lack of a metal reinforcement bar may have contributed to the collapse.

Coroner’s Findings

Between January and July 2021, the basketball court underwent several inspections — six of them in July alone.

However, none identified the structural weakness.

State Coroner Adam Nakhoda later stated that no contributory fault could be attributed to Ridwan or the other players, noting that “if the frame had been manufactured and installed correctly, it should never fail”.

He directed the investigation officer to inspect other basketball courts using similar structures supplied by Velocity Sports Equipment.

When asked by The Straits Times if further checks had been conducted on projects involving TMS Alliances, KAF Resources, or Velocity Sports Equipment, ECTC said it was unable to comment as the coroner’s court hearing is ongoing.

“We will provide further updates once the proceedings have concluded,” the spokesperson said.

The coroner’s court is scheduled to resume hearings on Ridwan’s case on 27 November.