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Death of Benjamin Lim: Difference between revisions
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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. | Lim's mother, Mdm Teng, said she received a call from her son’s handphone in that morning<ref>https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2016/01/31/14-year-old-jumps-to-his-death-after-unaccompanied-police-interrogation/</ref>. | ||
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. | 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. | ||
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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. | 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 | 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 Lim’s conduct and grades at school. | ||
The interviewing officer then told her | The interviewing officer then told her Lim 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.” | 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.” | ||
Lim 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 | When Mdm Teng last saw Lim, 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. | 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. Lim was nowhere to be seen. | ||
Mdm Teng rushed to the ground floor and saw her son’s body lying motionless on the ground. | Mdm Teng rushed to the ground floor and saw her son’s body lying motionless on the ground. | ||
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Key inaccuracies addressed by Shanmugam included: | Key inaccuracies addressed by Shanmugam included: | ||
* Claims that police officers were not in plainclothes when they visited | * Claims that police officers were not in plainclothes when they visited Lim's school. | ||
** The minister clarified that all officers were in plainclothes and used unmarked cars. | ** The minister clarified that all officers were in plainclothes and used unmarked cars. | ||
* Allegations that | * Allegations that Lim was interrogated and intimidated by five police officers. | ||
** Shanmugam stated only one officer spoke to | ** Shanmugam stated only one officer spoke to Lim in the presence of school staff, and he was later interviewed by one officer in an open-plan office at the police station. | ||
* Assertions that | * Assertions that Lim was coerced into making a false admission. | ||
** The minister pointed out that | ** The minister pointed out that Lim admitted to intentionally touching the girl, which corroborated the victim’s report. | ||
* Claims that | * Claims that Lim was denied food and drink. | ||
** Shanmugam clarified that | ** Shanmugam clarified that Lim was offered food and drink but declined. | ||
Shanmugam stated that, based on available evidence, Lim would likely have received no more than a stern warning for the alleged offense, given his young age and clean record. | Shanmugam stated that, based on available evidence, Lim would likely have received no more than a stern warning for the alleged offense, given his young age and clean record. | ||
He noted that such a warning would not have led to prosecution or a criminal record. However, there was no indication that | He noted that such a warning would not have led to prosecution or a criminal record. However, there was no indication that Lim had been made aware of this during the process. | ||
One specific falsehood cited was a claim in a ''The Online Citizen'' article (5 February 2016) that police officers at the school wore shirts with the word “Police.” | One specific falsehood cited was a claim in a ''The Online Citizen'' article (5 February 2016) that police officers at the school wore shirts with the word “Police.” | ||
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Following the tragic death of 14-year-old Benjamin Lim in January 2016, his family expressed profound grief and concern over the circumstances leading to his passing. | Following the tragic death of 14-year-old Benjamin Lim in January 2016, his family expressed profound grief and concern over the circumstances leading to his passing. | ||
In [https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2016/02/04/open-letter-from-benjamins-family-to-clarify-what-transpired-on-26-janurary/ an open letter] published by The Online Citizen, | In [https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2016/02/04/open-letter-from-benjamins-family-to-clarify-what-transpired-on-26-janurary/ an open letter] published by The Online Citizen, Lim's father detailed the family's perspective, highlighting a lack of timely communication from both the police and school authorities. | ||
He criticized the manner in which | He criticized the manner in which Lim was taken from school by five police officers without waiting for family members to arrive, stating, "The school, in my opinion, should never have handed over my son to five police officers during recess hours without having to wait for the arrival of family members." | ||
During the coroner's inquiry, discrepancies emerged between the family's recollection and the accounts provided by school staff. The family's lawyer noted that | During the coroner's inquiry, discrepancies emerged between the family's recollection and the accounts provided by school staff. The family's lawyer noted that Lim's mother had a different recollection of conversations with the school counsellor regarding his participation in a school camp, indicating a divergence in understanding between the parties involved. | ||
The family also disputed certain observations made during the inquiry. For instance, when a school counsellor suggested a correlation between | The family also disputed certain observations made during the inquiry. For instance, when a school counsellor suggested a correlation between Lim's stress levels and his mother's tone during a phone conversation, the family's lawyer clarified that such a suggestion would be "very upsetting" to the mother, emphasizing the family's sensitivity to interpretations of their interactions with Lim. | ||
Overall, the Lim family expressed deep sorrow and concern over the handling of the events leading up to | Overall, the Lim's family expressed deep sorrow and concern over the handling of the events leading up to Lim's death, seeking clarity and justice for their son. | ||
=== '''Public Reaction''' === | === '''Public Reaction''' === | ||