THE full-time national serviceman who was said to have left camp last year with a rifle and ammunition, sparking a massive manhunt, will stand trial in the High Court in July.

Dave Teo Ming, 20, is charged with unlawful possession of a SAR-21 assault rifle at Cathay Cineleisure Orchard at about 8pm on Sept 3 last year.

He is also accused of having eight 5.56mm bullets, the type used in SAR-21 rifles.

Teo also faces a third charge of having a 40cm knife at a staircase of Block 22, Simei Street 1, Melville Park, on April 14 last year.

At a preliminary inquiry on Thursday, Teo appeared solemn. He is represented by lawyer K. Mathialahan.

If convicted, he could be jailed up to 20 years and caned.

Teo was trained as an infantry rifleman with the 1st Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment.

He is said to have fled Mandai Hill Camp while on guard duty.

A island-wide manhunt involving some 200 police officers followed and Teo was finally arrested at Orchard Cineleisure 20 hours later.

Police caught him in a toilet on the mall's third floor. When he was nabbed, he was dressed in a black suit and tie.

Teo's friend, Ong Boon Jun, 22, who was with him before he was caught, was jailed six-and-a-half years and caned six strokes in February.