Ex-Law Society VP Chia Boon Teck says he will reflect & change after remarks on rape case: Shanmugam

Senior lawyer and former vice president of the Law Society of Singapore Chia Boon Teck has met with Minister of Law and of Home Affairs K Shanmugam.

Chia had made remarks regarding a sexual assault victim that questioned the victim's testimony, as well as making several other jabs.

On reflection

Shanmugam shared a post on social media showing the two men in the minister's office.

According to the post, the pair had met on Apr. 10 at Chia's request.

Shanmugam told Chia that he "needed to reflect on his comments and his approach".

He further suggested that Chia consider "a journey of deeper reflection and understanding" and for him to appreciate that "his remarks were quite wrong".

Chia, in turn, said that would "reflect, change, and find ways of contributing to society".

Background

Chia had previously made comments questioning the testimony of a sexual assault victim.

The comments had been made after the conviction of former Wah!Banana Lev Panfilov on four charges of molesting, sexually assaulting and raping a woman.

Chia had posted his comments on the social media site LinkedIn, issuing a 10-point essay critiquing the woman's testimony, suggesting that she may have been less than honest.

His post led to many of his peers decrying his posts and calling on him to resign.

The Law Society of Singapore also issued a statement to distance itself from Chia and his comments.

Norm indicating

Shanmugam eventually added his thoughts on the matter and, on Mar. 24, wrote a pointed post expressing concern over what Chia had written.

While noting that Chia had expressed his personal views, Chia was also the vice president of the Law Society.

Shanmugam said he was concerned that "some people might actually think the view he has expressed indicate the norms in Singapore", saying that it might impact other victims.

Shanmugam also noted that the victim in this case had been found to be "an unusually convincing witness', whose evidence was "internally and externally consistent".

Shanmugam said that Singapore was moving "quite in the opposite direction" from Chia's views and that he hoped Singapore would "continue to be a society that provides a proper framework to protect women in sexual assault cases."

Shanmugam had concluded at the time by saying that "shaming and blaming victims steps over the line. And misogyny should have no place in our society".

Chia would eventually resign from the vice presidency of the Law Society.

Related stories

Top image via K Shanmugam/Facebook