Former Singapore Idol judge Ken Lim Chih Chiang, 61, was sentenced to 13 months' jail on Tuesday, November 18, after being convicted of molesting a 25-year-old woman at his Hype Records office in 2021. Lim had contested the charge in one of five slated trials, but Principal District Judge Lee Lit Cheng ultimately found him guilty.
The Molestation Incident
The victim, who was applying for prospects with Lim's company, testified that she had met Lim for three interviews in 2021, with the molestation occurring during the third meeting.
The court heard that Lim asked the victim to role-play by kissing him, claiming it was part of the interview process. The victim complied, though she initially showed discomfort. When she kissed him again, Lim used the opportunity to grope her before removing his hand. The victim was shocked and pulled away. She claimed Lim then asked what else she would like to do with him, which she refused, stating it was against her morals.
Judge's Findings and Sentencing
Principal District Judge Lee Lit Cheng found the victim to be a truthful witness, while she described Lim as "untruthful" in his defense.
The judge highlighted the skin-on-skin contact and the surrounding circumstances of the offense, emphasizing how Lim deliberately exploited his position of authority:
Cultivating Authority: Lim "cultivated an image of authority and expertise" by mentioning local celebrities and detailing how he had trained them.
Creating Vulnerability: He positioned himself as the victim's mentor, offering career advice and requesting "complete openness" to better develop her character, telling her he wanted a "very close (mentor-mentee) relationship" with her.
Abuse of Power: The victim consented to the kissing because she believed it was part of the interview. Lim then "took the opportunity to grope the victim."
Judge Lee stated that Lim exploited the victim's vulnerability as an interviewee who needed to maintain good relations with him, given his position as a decision-maker. The judge also pointed to the "inherent power imbalance," which increased Lim's chances of evading accountability.
Lim, who is above 50, is not eligible for caning. Therefore, the judge imposed a one-month jail sentence in lieu of three strokes of the cane, adding to his total term. The judge noted that Lim was not eligible for any sentence reduction for a guilty plea as he claimed trial and "did not display any remorse in the conduct of his defence."
Other Charges Withdrawn
Lim had accusations leveled against him by five women in total. In an earlier, separate trial, he was acquitted of making sexual comments to an aspiring songwriter in 2012.
Following his conviction in this molestation case, lead prosecutor James Chew requested that the remaining five charges against Lim—for insulting the modesty of women—be withdrawn under Section 147(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code. The judge granted the withdrawal, meaning the three slated remaining trials against Lim will not proceed.
Lim's lead lawyer, Senior Counsel Tan Chee Meng, stated that his client would appeal against both the conviction and the sentence. Lim remains out on bail pending the appeal process. For outrage of modesty, Lim could have faced up to two years' jail or a fine.
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