Family demands answers eight months after Singaporean teen’s death in Maldives

The family of Jenna Ariane Zhi-En Chan, 15, a student from Singapore who died during an experiential school trip to the Maldives, says the Maldives Police Service (MPS) has yet to complete its investigation, eight months after her tragic death.

The family said they are concerned about the delay in getting answers and are doing everything they can regarding the matter.

Jenna, a student at Saint Joseph's Institution International (SJII) in Singapore, died on November 8 last year while on a National Youth Achievement Award expedition to the Maldives.

Local media outlets have reported that she died after being hit by the propeller of a boat that reversed while she was snorkeling near Dhigurah in Alif Dhaal atoll.

According to Jenna's parents, they have received very little information about her death from both the relevant Maldivian authorities and Jenna's school. However, the school says they have made extensive efforts to compile a comprehensive report on the incident.

When Channel News Asia (CNA) inquired about the matter with the school's CEO Michael Johnston on July 16, he stressed that despite repeated requests, the relevant Maldivian authorities have not provided the school with any information or documentation related to the investigation.

The school's CEO further stated that neither the boat crew nor the staff of the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme (MWSRP), which conducted the program for the school, have provided any evidence of how the incident occurred.

The school said that, "Until the Maldives Police Service releases the report on this incident, the school will not have a complete picture of what happened."

The Singapore Ministry of Education (MOE) said on Tuesday that it will not further investigate how SJII handled the incident. The decision was made because the school had acted in accordance with safety protocols for overseas trips. Education further noted that as SJII is a private school, it operates independently of the mainstream education system.

Jenna's parents told CNA that they still do not know the details of how she died or who should be held responsible.

CNA reports that due to the lack of adequate assistance from Maldivian investigative authorities, they have now begun their own investigation as there is no other option.

The family has launched a website called "Justice for Jenna." The website includes a video describing what they believe to be the events of the incident and a list of questions they say remain unanswered.

In April, Jenna's father made a trip to the Maldives to further clarify what happened. During the trip, 59-year-old Chan received a CT scan showing Jenna's injuries, but not much else. He said he did not receive any significant updates on the progress of the investigation from the police institution.

In May, officers from the Maldives Police Service (MPS) went to Singapore and interviewed four students and a teacher who were on the trip with Jenna. Dr. Johnston confirmed that SJII had facilitated these interviews.

Dr. Johnston stated that as the incident occurred in the Maldives, the official authorities there have the power to investigate, and that MPS is still conducting the investigation.

Responding to questions from Channel News Asia, the Ministry of Education said that the Singapore government has been in contact with the family since the incident occurred. It also said that assistance is being provided "to the extent possible within their laws and regulations."

A ministry spokesperson said that Singaporean authorities do not have legal jurisdiction to investigate incidents that occur in foreign countries.

"However, Singapore police have been providing assistance to the relevant Maldivian authorities who have primary responsibility and jurisdiction in this case."

The Singaporean media outlet, CNA, said they have made many attempts to contact the Maldives Police Service for more information.

CNA said that when they called the main hotline listed on the police website, an operator answered and confirmed receipt of the email questions sent by CNA. The operator said that a specific department is handling the case and directed them to contact that department directly.

In the eight months since Jenna's death in the Maldives, overseas experiential trips for school students have remained suspended.

However, the school is now preparing to resume experiential trips. The family has expressed surprise that the school is planning to resume overseas trips before the investigation into Jenna's death is completed.

Dr. Johnston told CNA that outdoor education has been a core part of SJII's curriculum since the school's inception. He also said that this is important for students' overall development.

Confirming the resumption of school trips, the CEO said, "However, all trips to the Maldives by the school have been suspended.