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

[kuasimi]

Personal accounts highlight systematic issue with police procedure and practices

http://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2016...and-practices/


By onlinecitizen on February 2, 2016 Social Justice

In response to the case of 14-year-old Benjamin Lim, individuals have started to speak up about their past experience and voice out against the systematic issue that the Singapore Police Force might have with its policing protocols, .

Below are some accounts of individuals sharing their personal experience or as a family member on encounters with the police. The names are not revealed for their privacy but their accounts are viewable publicly as the comments were posted on Facebook comment threads and forums. More will be published later.

Personal account #1

I’m not defending the boy, but I was once in this same situation where I was brought into Jurong Police Station for investigation for case report against me.

During the interrogation, 2 to 3 different officers question me with a stern voice, threatening tone and raising their voice occasionally. They had already assume that I had committed the crime and just forcing me to admit. I still remember they keep repeating this sentence saying: Come on lah, stop lying, I can tell that you are lying!!!

They could not get anything out from me and I was able to name a couple of witnesses. I was put into a holding area behind BAR not allowing to talk to anyone.

And only after few hours I was bailed out by my sister. The witness had given their statement matching what I had said, but they still do not release me. That the way they work.

Personal account #2

I experience with Investigation Officer (IO) from J division; they came to my house to take my son for statement when they know the parents (were) not at home. They ask my son to open the gate and one of the plain officer come inside my house like burglar go inside my son room and confiscate my son hp without any warrant, entering ppl house they are are suck when doing their work.

Personal account #3

I experienced the same treatment as Benjamin when I was 13 years old by the police in Singapore. As my group of friends were caught in a fight with another group at a shopping mall, I was arrested together with them even when I did not get involved in the brawl.

Same experience as Benjamin…no adult presence when I was interrogated by three policemen in a room, was handcuffed in public and in the interrogation room, was escorted into a police car in full public view. The policemen didn’t even bother listening to my pleas of not being involved.

I was locked up in a prison cell at a police station for half a day and released only after midnight, even though my parents were already there many hours ago. They pressured me to sign a confession form without my parents’ presence and threatened me that if I don’t sign the form, I will be locked up for much longer. Only after all papers have been signed, then they released me to see my parents. Of course, my parents were displeased when I told them the truth and they pursued this case all the way to the ministry. Only then my file was dropped from records.

I understand how poor little Benjamin must have felt…i felt like my future has been ruined and suicide did cross my mind back then. Luckily the case was dropped by the police after my parents’ perseverance to see justice done. Otherwise, I would probably be a wreck of a child then.

Family member’s account

My brother has been interrogated by police before for petty crime when he was very young. He said that the way the police interrogated as if he had committed a murder. I do not know whether the police did this was to scare the minor so that they will not repeat their mistake. Probably it is more advisable if a minor is being interrogated, a social worker or councillor sits in. He/She is there not to interfere with the investigation but to ensure the police not to use ‘intimidating’ or ‘threatening’ way of questioning.

[kuasimi]

MOE: Schools obligated to cooperate with police and not stand in the way of law

http://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2016...he-way-of-law/


By onlinecitizen on February 2, 2016 Current Affairs


The Ministry of Education (MOE) said on Tuesday that schools in Singapore have the obligation to cooperate with the police and “not stand in the way of law”, but will seek to ensure the well-being of its students if they assist with police investigations.

This is in response to media queries about the case of Benjamin Lim, a 14-year-old boy who was found dead at the foot of the block of his family flat in Yishun after being questioned by the police, unaccompanied over a case of alleged outrage of modesty. The mother had told TOC that the police had denied access to her son, Benjamin throughout the course of interview.

MOE said through its spokeperson that the schools have a set of guidelines “which corresponds to the police’s guidelines on working with minors”

“This includes ascertaining the identities of the police officers who approach our schools,” MOE said. The ministry also explained that the school would speak to its student before the police speaks with him or her.

“The student’s parent or appointed guardian is also contacted before the student leaves with the police to assist in investigations. We will also ensure that our student is not hungry and has something to eat before leaving with the police,”

MOE added that its schools will keep the student’s identity and the nature of the case strictly confidential to protect the student’s privacy and dignity.

“While the student is assisting in police investigations, the school will continue to keep in contact with the student and the parent/guardian to render the necessary support,” MOE said.

To understand more about the case, you can read the interview that TOC conducted with the family.

[kuasimi]

Originally Posted by sammyboyfor

Nothing to do with media releases I'm speaking from my own experience.

When I was a kid I ended up in police custody numerous times for gang fights, cycling without lights at night and for trespassing.

During the period when Singapore was part of Malaysia the police were quite brutal. I was assaulted while in a police cell with a punch to the stomach for being insolent and refusing to answer questions.

I never contemplated suicide. In fact those of us who went through these sorts of baptisms of fire came out a lot stronger.

Kids nowadays are pathetic. They need to toughen up.

“Riot squad brutally beats up a group of unarmed students on 13 May 1954” incident


http://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2016...1954-incident/





Many would recall the National Service riot in 1954 which was taught in Singapore history textbook. The official narrative goes about like this,

“Singapore’s earliest attempt to introduce compulsory conscription in 1952 was vigorously resisted by the Chinese middle school students. On 13 May 1954, violence erupted when hundreds of students clashed with the police. As a result, 26 people were injured and 45 students arrested. The National Service Riots marked the beginning of intense communist subversion in the Chinese middle schools, which subsequently became the breeding ground for communist sympathisers in Singapore.”

In this episode of “History of Singapore”, Dr Thum Ping Tjin explains the long history of government deceit that led to this act of colonial brutality and its impact on Singapore’s decolonisation.

On 13 May 1954, the Singapore Police’s Riot Squad charged into a group of 900 unarmed students, brutally beating them, sending 30 to the hospital and arresting 48. The students were not protesting, but were quietly awaiting the outcome of a meeting at nearby Government House. This incident was a turning point in Singapore history – never before had the state conducted such unprovoked and outrageous violence against unarmed students. Worse, in the wake of the incident, the colonial government blamed the students for provoking the riot squad.

Dr Thum Ping Tjin, a Singaporean historian who is a Research Associate at the Centre for Global History and co-ordinator of Project Southeast Asia at the University of Oxford. Planned as a series of 40 episodes, the podcast will cover Singapore’s founding as a British port in 1819 up to separation from Malaysia in 1963. Each episode is about 20 – 30 minutes long. Dr Thum has set up a Patreon page for those interested in supporting and helping him improve the podcast.

To support the pod, visit patreon.com/pjthum.

[kuasimi]

Petitioning Singapore Police Force and 2 others
Ensure protection of minors' rights during police investigations


https://www.change.org/p/ensure-prot...edium=copylink


We, the undersigned, are saddened to hear of the tragic death of 14-year-old Benjamin Lim, who was found dead under his flat on the same day after he was questioned, arrested and released on bail by the police for an alleged outrage of modesty offence.

Benjamin was taken from his school to Ang Mo Kio Police Division Headquarters for questioning by five plainclothes policemen. He was not accompanied by anyone from the school, nor did the police wait until his mother had made her way to the school to see her son.

Benjamin’s case has highlighted the fact that current police protocol does not require minors to be accompanied by a parent, guardian or lawyer during interrogation.

We are encouraged to hear that the police are reviewing their own procedures when it comes to cases involving minors. We would like to express our support for this review, and hope that it will result in minors being accompanied by their legal counsel or at least a trained counsellor during questioning.

We would also like to urge the Singapore government to amend our legislation to provide clear definitions as to the age limits under which one would be considered a child. Under the Convention of the Rights of the Child (CRC), which Singapore has signed, a child is defined as anyone below the age of 18.

Currently, under Singapore law, a child is defined as being below the age of 14, with individuals between the age of 14 and 16 being defined as “young persons”, which is not in line with the definition as set out in the CRC.

We believe that transparency is important when it comes to police investigations, especially when minors are involved.

To that end, we support the police’s piloting of video recordings during questioning, and urge Parliament to pass legislation that would require mandatory video recordings of all police interrogations.


LETTER TO
Singapore Police Force
Ministry of Home Affairs
Ministry of Law
Ensure minors are protected during investigations in Singapore

[kuasimi]

February 2nd, 2016
AWARE statement on the rights of minors in criminal investigations

http://www.aware.org.sg/2016/02/awar...nvestigations/


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.

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.

[kuasimi]

[sensualshirley]

Singapore gt so bad meh... or that guy drama drama 1...?

[kuasimi]

Originally Posted by sensualshirley

Singapore gt so bad meh... or that guy drama drama 1...?

I dont understand your question. Maybe you should read from page 1.

It will come in handy when your loved ones get summon by SPF.

That drama drama guy is already dead.

It is the job of Government to market themselves as perfect. It is not the job of citizens to believe the marketing.

[sadfa]

Originally Posted by sensualshirley

Singapore gt so bad meh... or that guy drama drama 1...?

Spore is not a country or a democracy.

Wad happened to Benjamin can happen to anybody including you becos they were lying when they said everyone matters.

99,9% of sporeans don't matter. The balance is the elite n they'll b protected.

[sensualshirley]

Why the 2 of u so evil 1... i say drama drama nt say the boy Benjamin la... i say Kuasimi... like post everything is Singapore bad 1 nv gd...

den u 2 keep saying what my love one or i die...or get catch by police... i also nv do anything funny or say u 2 bad... go away la...

i not talking to u 2 already...

[ExBros]

Originally Posted by sensualshirley

Why the 2 of u so evil 1...
.
.


den u 2 keep saying what my love one or i die...or get catch by police... i also nv do anything funny or say u 2 bad... go away la...

i not talking to u 2 already...

Lol! U soooo cute sia!

[sadfa]

Originally Posted by sensualshirley

Why the 2 of u so evil 1... i say drama drama nt say the boy Benjamin la... i say Kuasimi... like post everything is Singapore bad 1 nv gd...

den u 2 keep saying what my love one or i die...or get catch by police... i also nv do anything funny or say u 2 bad... go away la...

i not talking to u 2 already...

In spore, you don't need to be a criminal for them to whack you good good. It's called political persecution.

It's impossible to not commit any crime in spore
Jaywalkin oso crime.
You download something no copyright oso crime.

Because you have no rights, they can investigate you secretly n blow a small thing up.

If they see you keep your nude photos in your HP or tablet, they n the cb press will portray you as some corruptor of kids cos if kids see how?? And smear you all the way

If you vote for these ccb, time to repent liao

[kuasimi]

Originally Posted by sensualshirley

Why the 2 of u so evil 1... i say drama drama nt say the boy Benjamin la... i say Kuasimi... like post everything is Singapore bad 1 nv gd...

den u 2 keep saying what my love one or i die...or get catch by police... i also nv do anything funny or say u 2 bad... go away la...

i not talking to u 2 already...

Your England give me cancer.

The Media post how good is PAP everyday so nothing wrong with posting some opposites of what the Media post.

[Max77]

Originally Posted by kuasimi

I guess you did not read what dead boy family said. Spend some time reading before commenting.

where got time so free read up newspaper? I tell u lah the more exciting they write the more people read they win liao. True or not use ur kar chng think alrdy will knw


What you said about CCTV not clear and thus dead boy was interrogated was the same thing I said.

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

[Ysatis]

sg police all buay sai 1