Yishun teen death: Shanmugam slams TOC for attempts to tar police with falsehoods

SINGAPORE – Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam highlighted several falsehoods online about the Benjamin Lim case and singled out socio-political website The Online Citizen (TOC) as one of the outlets publishing ‘inaccurate statements’.

The case involving teenager Benjamin started on Jan 26 when the 14-year-old was questioned by the police following allegations of molestation, only to fall to his death on the same day. It triggered questions if the police were too heavy-handed in their approach.

The Parliament was told by Mr Shanmugam today (Mar 1) that TOC had gone on a “planned, orchestrated campaign, using falsehoods” through about 20 articles as part of its campaign.

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He refuted TOC’s claim that the police were not inconspicuous in their attire when arresting Benjamin with the word “Police” emblazoned on their shirts, causing distress to the teenager. He informed Parliament that the police wore plain clothes on that fateful day.

As members of Parliament grilled the Law Minister on the case, Mr Shanmugam stressed that there will be no cover-ups and the police there will conduct an inquiry, despite TOC’s continued accusations.

“It is sad to see the level of dishonesty and politicisation of this matter,” Mr Shanmugam said of TOC.

grongloh@sph.com.sg

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The New Paper, Shin Min Daily News