Mum of teen who committed suicide after arrest disputes counsellor’s account

SINGAPORE — A school counsellor’s account of Benjamin Lim’s demeanour on the day he learnt he was being investigated for an alleged molestation came under the spotlight during the second day of the Coroner’s Inquiry into his death on Jan 26.

Madam Karry Lung had testified on Tuesday (May 17) that Benjamin, 14, was “slightly stressed” when he was first spoken to by a police officer, but she observed that the boy became “significantly stressed” during a phone conversation with his mother before he was taken to the police station for questioning.

On Wednesday, the lawyer representing Benjamin’s family cross-examined Mdm Lung on her assessment, saying that her suggestion of a correlation between the teenager’s stress levels escalating and his mother purportedly raising her voice during the conversation would be “very upsetting” to her.

The lawyer, Mr Choo Zheng Xi, said: “I want to clarify that you are not suggesting here that there was a correlation between Benjamin’s mother speaking loudly and the significant stress that you observed. I want to clarify this because it’s my instruction that it would be very upsetting to the mother.”

In response, Mdm Lung reiterated that she could not hear what Benjamin and his mother’s conversation was about. 

“But I heard Benjamin’s reaction ... from his replies, it’s as if he couldn’t speak any further. At first, he replied. After that, his voice became softer and softer. From his body language, he started frowning,” she added, in Mandarin.

Five police officers went to Benjamin’s school on Jan 26 after an 11-year-old girl lodged a report that she had been molested in a lift the day before. After asking Benjamin some questions, a decision was made to take the boy to a police station for further interviews. Benjamin called his mother before they left the school.

Mdm Lung, who had said she saw the teenager starting to frown and his replies becoming softer and minimal during the phone conversation, was asked if Benjamin was stressed because there was a group of authority figures in the room at that time. Mr Choo also asked Mdm Lung how she came to the observation that he was slightly stressed initially.

In response, she said it was “quite difficult to describe”. But after spending five minutes observing Benjamin that day, she came to the conclusion that he sustained “a certain degree of stress”. Mdm Lung likened it to how a student’s facial expression, body language and tone would be when he is just about to take a national exam such as the O-Levels.

Earlier in the hearing, Mr Choo also said his clients had a different recollection of the conversations with school officials regarding Benjamin’s participation in a school camp. Mdm Lung had said the matter was discussed in the school library and over the phone later that day, where she suggested to Mrs Lim that Benjamin skip the camp. The family contended previously that the school had informed them that Benjamin will be excluded from the camp.

Mr Choo also said his clients do not recall having a conversation with Mdm Lung in the school library. He added that Mrs Lim’s version of the phone conversation she had with Mdm Lung later that day was different, but the lawyer did not elaborate.

After five witnesses took the stand over two days, State Coroner Marvin Bay said he was “satisfied” with the evidence presented so far although there were “a few strands to pull together”.

He instructed Mr Choo to adduce further evidence, if necessary, on Mrs Lim’s different recollection of the events. He also asked for statements to be taken from Benjamin’s mother and sister again before parties return to court on June 8.