In a recent legal development, former Singapore Idol judge Ken Lim Chih Chiang is poised to undergo five distinct trials, each relating to alleged offenses against five different female victims.
This decision comes after a district judge sided with the defense, rejecting the prosecution’s bid to consolidate six of the seven charges into a single trial, according to TODAY.
The charges against the 59-year-old include one count of allegedly using criminal force to outrage the modesty of a person and six charges of purportedly insulting the modesty of a woman through words, sound, or gesture.
These allegations are said to have been committed against five female victims, whose identities remain protected under a court order.
Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Gail Wong sought a joint trial for all seven charges, arguing that the offenses committed by Lim shared a “common thread.”
According to Wong, the charges, all involved women whom Lim was engaging for work. She contended that a consolidated trial would allow for a more efficient examination of the evidence, drawing a parallel with a person facing multiple cheating charges.
In response, defense counsel Tan Chee Meng vehemently objected to the joint trial, asserting that the charges lacked factual similarity. He emphasized that there was no indication that the victims were related or knew each other.
Additionally, Meng pointed out that the alleged offenses did not overlap in time, and the locations where they were supposedly committed were inconsistent.
Meng further highlighted the differences in the descriptions of the acts allegedly carried out by Lim, underlining the unique nature of each charge.
He argued that a joint trial would be prejudicial to Lim, creating significant difficulties in preparing and presenting a robust defense.
“Justice hurried is justice buried,” remarked Mr. Tan, emphasizing the defense’s commitment to ensuring a proper and fair trial.
Despite the challenges posed by multiple trials, Tan expressed the belief that each charge should be examined individually, stating, “If he has to go to five trials, then let it go to five trials.”
Recap
59-year-old former “Singapore Idol” judge Ken Lim Chih Chiang was slapped with a seventh charge on 20 September, according to Channel NewsAsia, where he stands accused of insulting the modesty of a woman during a discussion about a career in music.
According to the latest charge sheet, the incident took place during a conversation on 25 July 2012 about a career in music, where Lim allegedly made inappropriate remarks to a woman at the Hype Records office, asking her, “are you a virgin” and “what if I have s– with you right now.”
Lim is currently facing seven charges in total involving five alleged victims. The identities of these victims are protected by a court-issued gag order.
He was previously charged earlier this year for allegedly molesting a 25-year-old woman at his Hype Records office back in 2021, before being hauled back to court on 28 June to face an additional 5 more charges for insulting the modesty of three women.
Lim’s legal troubles began earlier this year when he was charged with allegedly molesting a 25-year-old woman at the Hype Records office on November 23, 2021. The specific allegation involved inappropriate touching of the woman’s chest through skin-to-skin contact.
In addition to the initial charge, four new charges have been brought against Lim. These charges pertain to incidents that occurred between 1998 and 2013, all taking place in the Hype Records office. These incidents involve three female artistes associated with the record label.
According to the charge sheets, Lim allegedly made suggestive remarks to the artistes regarding their songwriting. In one instance, he asked a female artiste about her virginity, questioning how she could write deeper songs if she lacked experience with intercourse.
Another allegation claims that Lim requested a female artiste to write her “obscene fantasies as homework” while offering himself as a potential partner. Moreover, there are reports of Lim gesturing and insinuating obscene activities when conversing with one of the artistes, suggesting a transactional nature.
One of the charges involves an incident that occurred between 1998 and 1999 at Lim’s home. It is alleged that he showed one of the victims an obscene video featuring a woman engaging in intercourse with multiple men.
If convicted for insulting a woman’s modesty, Lim could face imprisonment for up to one year, a fine, or both. In the case of molestation, the potential penalties include imprisonment for up to two years, a fine, caning, or any combination thereof. However, as Lim is above the age of 50, caning would not apply in his case.