Former Singapore Idol judge and Hype Records boss Ken Lim charged with molesting woman at his office

SINGAPORE — Former Singapore Idol judge Ken Lim, 58, was charged on Thursday (March 30) with using criminal force to molest a 25-year-old woman at his office in 2021.

The local music producer intends to claim trial to one count of outrage of modesty.

Lim, 58, was represented by Dentons Rodyk & Davidson partner Navin Naidu, who informed the court that his client maintains his innocence and would not be pleading guilty.

According to court documents, Lim allegedly used criminal force to outrage the modesty of the woman on the evening of Nov 23, 2021, by touching her breast with skin on skin contact.

The identity of the victim is protected by a gag order.

The incident allegedly occurred at his office at Hype Records, located at Henderson Road.

According to the National Library Board’s e-resources site, Lim runs Hype Records, a local record label as well as music management and promotion company.

A LinkedIn profile states Lim as executive director of the company. However, Hype Records’ website did not list any director or management team.

Lim’s defence counsel requested for the trial to commence urgently as investigations had taken more than 15 months, he said.

The lawyer also sought permission for Lim to leave Singapore.

Lim’s case was scheduled for a pre-trial conference on April 14. He was granted a bail of S$10,000.

Lim was chief judge of reality television singing competition Singapore Idol which ran from 2004 to 2009.

He was also the creator of local singing competition The Final 1, which aired in April 2013, and appeared as a judge alongside singers Kit Chan and Taufik Batisah, who was the first Singapore Idol winner.

If convicted of outrage of modesty, Lim could be jailed for up to two years, fined, or both. The punishment also includes caning, but offenders above the age of 50 cannot be caned.