Benjamin Lim’s father disputes school’s actions

SINGAPORE — Although a school counsellor had called his wife that day, the father of Benjamin Lim said the call was not to check on their son’s well-being.

Neither was there a discussion between the counsellor and his wife on whether it would be better for Benjamin to skip a school camp starting the following day so he could be with his family, the father added.

Mr Lim was disputing the actions taken by his son’s school before the 14-year-old fell to his death on Jan 26 as set out by Acting Minister for Education (Schools) Ng Chee Meng in Parliament on Tuesday (March 1).

“When the school’s counsellor called Benjamin’s mother at 4.13pm, he merely informed her that the school had a meeting, and Benjamin will be excluded from the camp. Before the mother can ask any further questions, (he hung up),” Mr Lim said. “(In) the entire conversation ... there were no questions asked about (Benjamin) at all ... zero questions about (his) well-being.”

The telephone conversation happened after Benjamin had been taken from his school to Ang Mo Kio Police Division for questioning over a molestation he allegedly committed the previous day. Benjamin was found dead at the foot of his block at 4.20pm.

Asked for comments on Mr Lim’s response, a Ministry of Education spokesperson said: “We empathise with Benjamin’s parents in their time of grief. The account given by the Minister in Parliament was based on the facts as we know them at this stage.”

The spokesperson added: “As Benjamin’s death will be properly inquired into at the coming Coroner’s Inquiry, the ministry will not be making any further comments at this juncture.”

In a phone interview with TODAY, Mr Lim also said that Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam had rightly pointed out in Parliament on Tuesday that his family wants privacy, in so far as it concerns keeping their names and photos from being published in the media.

“We don’t want to be identified for one very simple reason — because we are just ordinary citizens; we don’t want to be in the spotlight; we feel uncomfortable,” he said. “Other than that, about the case, we have no intention to keep mum about it.”

Mr Lim said that after his son’s death, there have been people going to their flat and following his daughter, wanting to speak to her about the case. “This got us very worried, because the thing is I already lost a son, and now it’s affecting my two other children,” he added.