Remember Ken Lim from Singapore Idol?
He was that judge known for his no-nonsense critiques and poker-faced delivery.
Well, these days, he’s been making headlines for all the wrong reasons, all tied to sexual offence allegations.
A judge has ruled that Ken Lim will face all seven charges against him in five separate trials. This decision came after the judge rejected the prosecution’s request to bundle all the charges into one trial.
Prosecution Submits Joint Trial
During a Friday (17 November 2023) hearing, Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Gail Wong sought a joint trial, according to Channel News Asia.
DPP Wong argued that all seven of Lim’s alleged offences share a “similar character” and have a “common thread”.
She emphasised that these offences occurred while Lim held the position of director at Hype Records and that he specifically targeted young women aged 18 to 26 who were engaged with him in a professional work context.
These women were either seeking employment at Hype Records, discussing career opportunities in the music industry with him, or artists working with him or under his management.
Additionally, he stands accused of making “sexual overtures” to these women, including an alleged incident of sexual contact with one individual claiming to be a victim of molestation.
Countering the defence’s argument, DPP Wong pointed out their previous request to expedite the trial process for Lim to clear his name.
Given this context, she urged the judge to grant Lim’s wish by allowing a joint trial.
Lim, aged 59, faces one count of molesting a 25-year-old woman in his office at Hype Records located on Henderson Road on 23 November 2021.
Following the initial charge, more police reports were subsequently filed.
These additional reports led to the emergence of six more charges, accusing him of insulting the modesty of four different women. These alleged incidents occurred at his office or home between 1998 and 2013.
In these cases, he is accused of asking women about their virginity and making inappropriate remarks about their sexual inexperience.
7 Charges of Sex Offences in 5 Different Trials Instead
Lim’s lawyers, comprising Senior Counsel Tan Chee Meng, Paul Loy, and Calvin Ong of WongPartnership, objected to the prosecution’s push for a joint trial.
Tan strongly refuted that a joint trial would benefit his client, Lim, in any way.
He emphasised that his client was determined to address the initial charge of molestation directly.
However, instead of allowing Lim to do so, the prosecution introduced six additional charges and argued that they were accommodating the defence’s request by consolidating all seven charges.
Tan also pointed out that the prosecution’s argument that Lim had committed these offences in his capacity as the director of Hype Records was not reflected in the charges themselves.
He referenced a previous case that supported a joint trial based on factors such as the proximity of time, location, and the offences stemming from the same set of facts.
However, Lim’s oldest charge goes back to 1998, a whopping 25 years ago.
Some charges lacked a specific date, while others encompassed a period of four years.
The judge informed the defence that they would deal with five separate trials. This is because even if the molestation charge was tried separately from those involving the insult of modesty, the four victims in the latter category are distinct and unrelated to each other.
5 Trials for 5 Victims
Ultimately, the judge sided with the defence, ruling against trying all seven charges together in a single trial.
The joint trial would be unfair to Lim, given that the five victims involved in these charges are not connected to each other.
As a result, Lim will face a total of five trials—one for the molestation charge, another for a second alleged victim who has accused him of two incidents, and three additional trials for the remaining three victims.
The parties will attend a pre-trial conference to address important matters, including the sequence of charges for the initial trial and its start date.
If found guilty of molestation, the potential penalties for Lim include a maximum jail term of up to two years, a fine, or a combination of both.
It’s worth noting that caning is also a possible punishment, though not applicable to Lim, who is over 50.
Who is Ken Lim?
If you didn’t catch Singapore Idol or The Final 1 during your upbringing, Ken Lim might not be a familiar name to you.
Ken Lim, 59, gained fame as the head judge on the reality singing competition Singapore Idol, a role he held from 2004 to 2009. His trademark included a deadpan expression and straightforward, no-nonsense feedback.
In essence, he was often referred to as the “Simon Cowell of Singapore Idol”.
In 1992, Ken Lim founded Hype Records. Over time, the company solidified its position as one of Singapore’s most well-established record labels.
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