14-year-old jumps to his death after unaccompanied police interrogation for Molest

[sadfa]

Originally Posted by Ysatis

sg police all buay sai 1

Since on which day they eh sai?

Versus 14 yr old kid, 5 turn up at school to take him in.
Versus little India rioters who want to kill bus driver, all waiting for seal team six to chiong down before turning up. 100 km away.

Kidnappers distract parents or make sure parents not around before take kid.
5 cops go school when parents not around before take kid.

And don't forget pai kar terrorist can walk to freedom wearing his fucking orange jumpsuit in broad daylight and need neighbour to tell police eh you lost your terrorist ar. You want him back bo?

And still brag they eh sai n got trust of people.

[Copperfield]

Someone jumps, everyone blames the police. But the last hour or so, the boy was actually with his mother rite? Anyone knows whay happened then? Police catch molester wrong? If my daughter is molested and she pointed out that boy, if bloody hell police don't bring back, I think I sure smack his face.

[countryman]

Originally Posted by Copperfield

Someone jumps, everyone blames the police. But the last hour or so, the boy was actually with his mother rite? Anyone knows whay happened then? Police catch molester wrong? If my daughter is molested and she pointed out that boy, if bloody hell police don't bring back, I think I sure smack his face.

Well said bro...
Those fellas just hide behind the keyboard n KPKB only! All no balls one, only know how to complain n complain.

[FuLuShou]

Originally Posted by Copperfield

Someone jumps, everyone blames the police. But the last hour or so, the boy was actually with his mother rite? Anyone knows whay happened then? Police catch molester wrong? If my daughter is molested and she pointed out that boy, if bloody hell police don't bring back, I think I sure smack his face.

Just one case, changes will happened. Police will have tough time in future.

[kuasimi]

Originally Posted by Copperfield

Someone jumps, everyone blames the police. But the last hour or so, the boy was actually with his mother rite? Anyone knows whay happened then? Police catch molester wrong? If my daughter is molested and she pointed out that boy, if bloody hell police don't bring back, I think I sure smack his face.

You are sick in the mind and out of point like countryman. You did not read what the dead boy's family said before commenting.

The dead boy's family said he did not do it and he was coerced to plead guilty by police.

You want to play Judge and pronounce the dead boy guilty when even the authorities did not say so?

You deserve to stay in a place where there is no Judicial System and no trials. A place whereby authorities are always right and if they say you are guilty, you must be guilty. Your paradises include North Korea, ISIS and China.

When you get summon by police, stick to your own words and be quiet if the police say you are guilty.

[kuasimi]

Originally Posted by FuLuShou

Just one case, changes will happened. Police will have tough time in future.

Judging from online sharing by netizens of past incidences involving SPF, it seems past 50 years, SPF interrogation methods of the citizens did not change much and remain consistent. But nobody committed suicide like this boy thus it remained as coffeeshop chitchat only.

[kuasimi]

Originally Posted by Max77

u bloody like to put words into people mouth knn. I say EVEN if the video shows 100% he is guilty, they also need to dig further so that in hope to find out as much as possible to get the whole damn bloody truth as much as possible. Video clear or not idk if u got chance see plse share with us thk you much much

Then to be fair, you should read before commenting.

SPF did not even charge the boy after 3 hours of interrogation which means the CCTV was not conclusive and did not clearly show any molest incident involving the boy.

The crux of this thread was how did SPF dig further truth from the dead boy.

It seems from the dead boy's family, the dead boy was bullied and coerced by SPF to admit guilt but the dead boy told family he did not do it.

As conclude, it is SPF's words versus dead boy's family words. Who is telling the truth, nobody will ever know because nobody is showing the CCTV SPF said they have and nobody video recorded the entire interrogation process.

If the school has any conscience and since the school saw the CCTV, the school should make third party statements about the truth of the CCTV. What exactly did the CCTV show?

[kuasimi]

Uneven playing field of Singapore politics and law, a cause for concern to every citizen


http://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2016...every-citizen/


By onlinecitizen on February 3, 2016 Letters


The below is a letter submitted to The Online Citizen

By Sum Wee Lee

I refer to the ongoing saga of the most unfortunate loss of a secondary 3 student after being interviewed and possibly, coerced by the State’s police into making a confession without any Guardian or Counsel around to dispense advise. More so when an individual is under 18 years of age.

I would like to share a perspective I observed while exiting Bugis MRT last Wednesday at about 9.30pm. I witnessed 6 policemen rounding up a skinny middle-aged Chinese guy for no apparent reason. They then proceeded to restraint him to the parapet ledge near the Station Control and begin to search him. All these were done in plain sight of the curious onlooking public. I felt compelled to take a video or at least a photo of the manner which the incident transpired but was spotted by 1 of the policemen who threatened to seize my phone and detain me citing the “public order act”.

Now puzzled, I wonder what really constitutes a “public order” incident as I merely wanted to generate photographic evidence to present to the public service commission and ask them if they agreed that police be rendered such extensive powers to humiliate a member of the public under the guise of security. As it turned out, there was nothing and the man was freed grudgingly.

The current uneven playing field of our politics and law should be a cause for concern to every citizen. Today its Benjamin, tomorrow, it might be your Jimmy, John or Joseph a brother, cousin or even classmate. I felt it’s compulsory that the “public order act” be scrutinized in light of Benjamin’s death as far too much power is given to Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) without any justification and abuses to the system will become more rampant as the government turns to the “war on terror” as the basis for such powers which is a different case and context altogether.

I distinctively remembered then NCMP Ms Sylvia Lim opposing the “public order bill“, which she felt “will actually become the source of public order problems”. Remember, the more oppressive a regime, the more violent it shall be overthrown. E.g. Myanmar and soon to be neighboring Malaysia, not to mention the “Arab Spring”.

I hope society as a whole together with our honorable members of Parliament will in coming weeks, search their conscience and ask if this was what the voters had in mind when they mandated the ruling party to govern with such autocratic and iron fist that is now extended even to our ignorant youths and minors. We must press MHA to come clean on Benjamin’s needless death and not allow them to hide under the shroud of “Official Secret Act (OSA)” which must be torn down by us sooner or later.

[kuasimi]

The police could show more compassion and finesse in dealing with teenagers

http://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2016...ith-teenagers/


By onlinecitizen on February 3, 2016 Commentaries



By Yoong Siew Wah

The tragic suicide of a 14-year-old teenager Benjamin Lim has struck a raw nerve among Singaporeans about questionable police methods of interrogation of teenagers. The manner in which Benjamin Lim was hauled from his school by five burly plainclothes police officers for a suspected molestation offence for interrogation could not but cause consternation to the public by the display of excessive intimidatory tactics by the police. The question uppermost in the public mind is whether it was necessary to send such massive police manpower to the school in the first place to deal with a minor? Was it not a clear case of wasteful use of resources when a single police officer would have been more than adequate.

At the police station, Benjamin Lim was subjected to more than three hours of interrogation without any of his guardian being present. He was released after interrogation and went straight home, only to jump out of his window to his death. The only conclusion that could be drawn was that he was over-traumatised by his traumatised experience at the hand of the police. An innocent life has been tragically lost at such a young age.

The million dollar question is who is to be blamed for this tragedy? The public could not be blamed if they point their finger at the police. They cannot understand how the police, with all their expertise, could deal with a minor as if he was a hardened criminal. The police will find it hard to defend themselves and whatever statement issued by them would not be able to calm the public.

So what is the best course for them to regain public confidence? It is natural to be wise after the event and the police will be found wanting if they could not be doing this. To begin with, it is obvious that their procedure in dealing with teenagers is defective and it is incumbent upon them to revise thoroughly their current procedure to do away with the unpalatable aspects such as the massive use of police manpower and the interrogation of minors without their parents or guardian being present. There should be the application of more common sense in implementing the procedure. They should always bear in mind that minors are a vulnerable class and should be treated compassionately and decently.

If we can henceforth see significant improvement in the police procedure in dealing with minors, the tragic death of Benjamin Lim will not be in vain. But then it is very sad that his parents will have to live with the pain of his premature death for the rest of their lives.

Republished from Singapore Recalcitrant, a blog of Mr Yoong Siew Wah, a former director of the Internal Security Department in the 1970s.


http://singaporerecalcitrant.blogspo...ompassion.html

[kuasimi]

“Militia-like mentality renders any individual helpless, fearful, and forsaken in the eyes of the law”


http://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2016...es-of-the-law/


By onlinecitizen on February 3, 2016 Letters


Below is a letter to The Online Citizen. The writer has requested to be anonymous.

By an anonymous parent

The recent suicide of a 14-year-old child after his interrogation in the hands of the police highlights a disconcerting sense of loss which I believe many others feel as they, like myself, try to make sense of the events that led to his premature death.

It is equally disconcerting that not a single voice from the ruling party, nor members from the opposition camp, has come forth to issue their thoughts on this matter, except for a number of apathetic reports in the papers that aims more to intellectualize the event as it pertains to the two main institutions of the country involved, rather than pin point certain fundamental flaws in lawful procedures. Has it ever crossed anyone’s minds that this might happen to our own children?

God forbid. Most would simply brush this harrowing thought aside and wish that their charges would be more sensible than to end their own lives. So it was the case when the mother of the victim, the victim, and his sister were taking the train home, with nary a faint suspicion that this would be their last sojourn together as a family.

A young life is taken at such short notice. Although not one to subscribe to the supernatural things that I do not immediately understand, the admission of unclosed eyes of the deceased is symptomatic of justice that needs to be redressed as much as it is unthinkable grief. A former leader of the country once quipped that the citizenry is “animal-like” and that Confucian ideals serve the purpose of negating such “animinalistic” tendencies. I would like to ask, Who or what is the animal here! A boy has died. Such a perversion of Confucian ideals is plain for all to see!

Under a police state, law enforcers are indoctrinated with certain facist ideologies that have persisted to this day, and imbued with an irreproachable power to disarm, disorient, and disavow the rights of, the human being.

The subjugation of the individual takes precedence over any notions of basic human rights, as though some form of sacrosanct moral law has been transgressed. This militia-like mentality renders any individual helpless, fearful, and forsaken in the eyes of the law.

Therefore, law enforcers in such states are often perceived as being apart from, rather than a part of, the common man. It is nothing short of a travesty that the promulgation of such beliefs have been so debased as to transpire in light of events surrounding children around the world, where the line between a child and adult is blurred, for when the child is no longer deemed as an individual, but a mere object that has run afoul of a perceived moral law, he or she is devoid of any feelings, rationality, and right to disputation.

For some, trauma is the only result under such circumstances, and if the logical state of mind is so shaken to the core, ending one’s life, unfortunately, becomes the sole recourse for others.

As a mother buries her child, something does not feel right, something’s got to give.

[kuasimi]

AWARE statement on the rights of minors in criminal investigations


http://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2016...nvestigations/


By onlinecitizen on February 3, 2016 Current Affairs


Statement by Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE)

We are deeply saddened by the death of Benjamin Lim. We offer our best wishes and condolences to his family and friends at this difficult time. While we cannot ultimately know why this young boy ended his life, the case raises troubling questions about the treatment of minors who come into contact with the criminal justice system.

As a group that works with people who have experienced sexual assault, AWARE is concerned about the rights and welfare of any children who may be involved in sexual assault investigations, whether as complainants, suspects or witnesses.

As a party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), Singapore has an obligation in international law to make the best interests of the child a primary consideration in all state dealings with any child. This includes cases where a child is alleged or accused to have committed a criminal offence – a stressful and difficult experience even for the most confident adult.

AWARE welcomes the announcement by SPF that it will review the procedure for police interviews of young people, and urges SPF to draw from international best practice in this area. The Victoria Police in Australia, for instance, can only interview under-18s if a parent, guardian or other support person is present. Moreover, the SPF should be responsible for ensuring that emotional and psychological support is available to all minors (and their carers) who come into contact with the criminal justice system.

Only recently, the Law Society called for accused persons in general to have early access to counsel. This need applies with even more urgency to vulnerable individuals such as minors. Finally, we believe it is extremely important that the police take complaints of sexual assault seriously. But any investigation must take place with due regard for the rights of suspects. Victims of sexual assault want to see fairness and accountability in the criminal process. In many cases, the perpetrators is someone previously known to them.

Victims of sexual assault want to see fairness and accountability in the criminal process. In many cases, the perpetrators is someone previously known to them. If there is a general perception that criminal investigations may be unduly harsh or traumatic, especially for minors, this may deter victims from reporting. It is in everyone’s interest that criminal investigations respect the rights of suspects

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Background of the case – The secondary three student was taken to the police station for investigation by five plainclothes police officers from his school on Tuesday morning and was interviewed for over 3 hours. Benjamin had been alleged to have molested an 11-year-old girl on Monday afternoon which he denies. Shortly after returning home with his mother and sister from the police station, he locked himself in his room and jumped out the window. (read more)

[kuasimi]

Experience with the police, after being locked up at the station twice


http://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2016...station-twice/


By onlinecitizen on February 3, 2016 Letters


By Alex Ong

An open missive on the recent Yishun teen suicide case:

When I first heard about the case and the circumstances surrounding it, I was angry but not even surprised at all by what has happened.

I have been locked up twice at Ang Mo Kio police station, and what I will tell you next, is truthfully based on what I experienced there.

The police officers responsible for locking up people? Mostly sadists.

They also hire goons from Aetos to do their dirty work for them, and their behaviour is even worse.

They do not care for whether you are a minor, old, weak, strong, have known mental issues, or anything else. They can treat you as a lower lifeform, and they will do it.

“NO SYMPATHY, NO EMPATHY”

These are the exact words right out of the mouth of one of the sadists… I mean officers in there. Female. Indian.

Those words, and her face, I will forever remember it for the rest of eternity.

Feeling suicidal? They will tie you up, put you in a padded cell, and ignore you completely.

Have dietary restrictions? Fuck you, eat the shit we give you. Or starve. Your choice.

Don’t want to go in there? “Don’t commit suicide lah!”. Direct quote from one of the hired Aetos goons. Again words I will never forget.

They don’t care about your emotions. They don’t care about your basic psychological needs. They don’t give a fuck about any of it at all.

Now imagine a 14-year-old innocent teen, wrongfully accused, to be suddenly plucked out of school and subjected to such abuse.

I don’t give a fuck that they did it “low-key”. Obviously, the abuse doesn’t start until it’s behind closed doors and insurmountable walls, which is where they can do their dirty work away from the public’s eyes.

Why do you think I got panic attacks after my second lockup? Why do you think I need professional psychological help from the Institute of Mental Health urgently afterward on both times?

The process, the psychological torment they force you through, it leaves deep, irreparable damage on your psyche.

You don’t come to me saying that the teen was already “weak” when he committed suicide. This is a young boy who had reasons to live. He has a loving family. He was looking forward to participating in a school activity the next day.

You don’t go from someone looking forward to life to being dead by suicide overnight unless something destroyed you psychologically. And given what I experienced, I’m not the least bit surprised that things happened the way it did.

If you never experienced what I did, in my shoes, in reality, you will never understand how damaging it is or comprehend how someone could kill himself over it, and seek other excuses for your reasoning.

To the Singapore police and the responsible ministers, especially to those who allow this to happen while sitting in your ivory towers: your practices have snuffed out a young life full of promise, full of potential. You have blood on your hands that you can never ever even begin to hope that you can clean off. Your blood tainted hands shall be up for the entire world to see, until the end of days.

And don’t think you can try to shake me out of my account. I shall stand by what I said, right here, with every fibre of my soul. No amount of torment, torture, intimidation, even death threats to me or my family, shall ever make me change. I will swear by it, retell all of it straight into your face, hand over my heart or on a religious book of your choice, under an oath in a courtroom, and in any way you want to make me swear by it. You can never run from the truth, and you can never try to change it.

This post was first published on Alex Ong’s Facebook page as a personal experience with the police

[countryman]

Respect the law and be law abiding u won't have to go through being lock-up n TWICE some more! Goosh, seriously u should reflect on yourself instead of blaming the SPF! What treatment are u expecting to get? It is a police lock-up n not club med. U expect the policeman or policewoman to say nice consoling words to u ah! Spare a thought for the constables, u think it is so easy handling criminals in the lock-up everyday? They are also earning a decent living out there.
Please lah, grow up n wake up your ideas!

[77guy]

Tho i dun like the men in blue...can i ask honestly how many think the boy is realli innocent, mean din molest the girl. Do alot of u guys realli think the police nothing better to do n try accuse the boy for something he did not commit?

Lets be fair...if u pity a young(14yo) life lost here...how can u not pity the 11yo little gal being molested??Wat would be going thru her young 11yo mind after going thru her ordeal of being molested which will long affect her life for a long long time.

We all in sbf becos we are hump sup...i for one admit this fact, but to go molest a 11yo is something totally different and off the limit.

Maybe we have the internet to blame with easy access to porn compare to my time when normally getting porn is thru video tapes we found in our parents cupboard... but i will choose to give my sympathy to the 11yo gal than to the 14yo boy in this case....

We all make mistake when young...joined teen gang b4 myself...involve in fights...but to molest a 11yo is not among my list of forgivable wrong things.

Imagine 14yo commits molest(and if get away too lightly)...wat else next when turn 18yo or 20s...rape??

[Copperfield]

Originally Posted by kuasimi

You are sick in the mind and out of point like countryman. You did not read what the dead boy's family said before commenting.

The dead boy's family said he did not do it and he was coerced to plead guilty by police.

You want to play Judge and pronounce the dead boy guilty when even the authorities did not say so?

You deserve to stay in a place where there is no Judicial System and no trials. A place whereby authorities are always right and if they say you are guilty, you must be guilty. Your paradises include North Korea, ISIS and China.

When you get summon by police, stick to your own words and be quiet if the police say you are guilty.

Wah Seh. Brother. You are right. I really never see where the parents claimed that he was coerced. According to TOC,

While waiting for the train at the MRT station, Mdm Teng asked Benjamin if he had indeed molested the girl. Benjamin told her he had not.

She then asked him, “Why then did you confess?”

According to Mdm Teng, this was what Benjamin said: “You say I am guilty, I’m guilty then.”

Mdm Teng said she told her son that he should not have admitted to the crime if he did not do it.

Got mention police force him? Mentioned where sia? I want to read. Or you assumed that police is guilty? You the judge now?