On March 1, 2016, Minister for Home Affairs, K. Shanmugam, addressed Parliament regarding the case of a 14-year-old teenager who killed himself after he was called up by police to assist with investigations in a molest case.

Shanmugam revealed, after consulting with the Attorney General’s Chambers, some facts of the pending case that led to Benjamin Lim being called up by the police while he was in school.

So far, it has been established and revealed in parliament that Lim was positively identified via closed-circuit television footage as he was seen making a detour and following an 11-year-old girl into the lift in a block of flats in Yishun on Jan. 25, 2016.

After police officers picked Lim up from school the next day on Jan. 26, he was brought to the police station.

Contrary to some online reports and speculation, it was revealed the teen was interviewed in an open plan office cubicle and was never handcuffed nor interrogated.

Here was what happened on Jan. 26 at the police station when Lim was brought in:

Lim was not handcuffed at any point, and was cooperative.

A police officer took Lim's statement at his workstation in an open plan office. There were other officers working in their respective cubicles, including one officer who was working very near the cubicle Lim was in.

The cubicle the boy was in is located next to the restroom:

Lim's written statement was taken at 12.15pm, after he requested time to recall what happened.

He was offered food and drink after the interview, which he declined. He was then placed in a Temporary Holding Room alone while the police recorded a statement from Benjamin's mother.

Benjamin was released on bail around 2.50pm and he left with his family. This was after around 3½ hours at the station.

Related articles:

On Benjamin Lim: Minister for Home Affairs gave TOC and Law Society president Thio Shen Yi a shelling

Police asked 14-year-old Benjamin Lim to assist in investigations after he was identified via CCTV footage

Home Affairs Minister gives MHA’s side of the story in the Benjamin Lim case

14-year-old Benjamin Lim’s last meal was a cold bun, father reveals in heartbreaking letter to public

S’pore police releases statement, to review allowing adult to be present during young person interview

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