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Death of Benjamin Lim: Difference between revisions
→Police Investigation
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He was interviewed at the Ang Mo Kio Police Division without a parent, teacher, or legal representative present, as was allowed under the law at the time. | He was interviewed at the Ang Mo Kio Police Division without a parent, teacher, or legal representative present, as was allowed under the law at the time. | ||
Lim's mother, Mdm Teng, said she received a call from her son’s handphone in that morning. | |||
A police officer informed her that Lim was assisting in an investigation of a case of molestation, and told her to pick him up from the police station at around 3pm. | |||
Mdm Teng said she then asked to speak with her son. | |||
According to her, Lim told her during the conversation that he did not commit the alleged offence. But before he could continue any further, the phone was taken away by the police officer. | |||
Mdm Teng said she asked the same police officer if she could go to the school to see her son. However, she was told it was not necessary for her to do so. Instead, she was instructed to wait for police to call her. The officer then hung up. | |||
Immediately after the police officer hung up on her, Mdm Teng and her daughter went to Lim’s school hoping to find out what was going on. When they arrived, they were shocked to discover that Lim had already been taken away by police. He was not accompanied by anyone from the school. | |||
At about 1pm, the police called Lim's home again and told Mdm Teng that her son had been arrested for molestation. | |||
Mdm Teng and her daughter then made their way to the Ang Mo Kio Police Division Headquarters and requested to see Lim. However, the request was denied. | |||
According to Mdm Teng, she waited for about half an hour at the reception area before a police inspector asked her to follow him. She was then brought to an interview room where a Chinese-speaking officer questioned her about Benjamin’s conduct and grades at school. | |||
The interviewing officer then told her Benjamin had confessed to commiting a crime, and that the offence had been captured on CCTV footage. | |||
Mdm Teng said she told the officer she could not believe her son would do such a thing and requested to see the CCTV footage. She said the police told her, “This is the police’s investigation, not your investigation.” | |||
Benjamin was released at about 2.50pm. Neither he nor Mdm Teng received a copy of their police statement. | |||
After the interview, Lim was released to his parents and returned home. | After the interview, Lim was released to his parents and returned home. | ||
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He had learned from his mother shortly before his death that he would not be attending a school camp scheduled for the next day. | He had learned from his mother shortly before his death that he would not be attending a school camp scheduled for the next day. | ||
When Mdm Teng last saw Benjamin, he was playing with his handphone. | |||
A little later, she discovered that his bedroom door, which was normally kept open, was closed. Sensing that something was amiss, she used a spare key to get into the room. Benjamin was nowhere to be seen. | |||
Mdm Teng rushed to the ground floor and saw her son’s body lying motionless on the ground. | |||
She stated that the police were already on-site when she arrived downstairs. | |||
His death was ruled a suicide. Lim did not leave a suicide note, but his family later stated that he had been distressed following the police investigation. | His death was ruled a suicide. Lim did not leave a suicide note, but his family later stated that he had been distressed following the police investigation. | ||
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The coroner noted that Lim was likely unaware that, at most, he could have faced sanctions focused on rehabilitation, such as a stern warning or probation. | The coroner noted that Lim was likely unaware that, at most, he could have faced sanctions focused on rehabilitation, such as a stern warning or probation. | ||
The school had recommended that he stay home with his family during this time, but the decision had not been explained directly to Lim, which the coroner later noted could have contributed to a misinterpretation of the situation. | |||
While police had informed Lim’s mother about possible outcomes, there was no evidence that Lim himself had been made aware of these potential consequences. This lack of understanding may have exacerbated his fear and anxiety. | While police had informed Lim’s mother about possible outcomes, there was no evidence that Lim himself had been made aware of these potential consequences. This lack of understanding may have exacerbated his fear and anxiety. | ||