Police officer probed over alleged negligence in rape case
The police investigation officer involved in rapist Lee Seow Peng's case is himself being probed over how the case was handled.
Lee, 40, a former crane operator, was jailed 12 years and given nine strokes of the cane on Wednesday (April 13) after being convicted of raping a 12-year-old girl in the back seat of his multi-purpose vehicle at the Chinese Garden in 2012.
In January, Judicial Commissioner Hoo Sheau Peng said Station Inspector Colin Ng had handled the case unsatisfactorily.
Station Insp Ng had told a colleague to swab the wrong part of Lee's car.
He then kept the swabs in his personal locker, forgot about it and never sent them for analysis.
The judge, however, noted that the lack of DNA evidence did not prejudice the case.
On Wednesday (April 13), a police spokesman told The New Paper that Station Insp Ng was being investigated internally.
The spokesman said: "Police officers are expected to adhere strictly to established investigation processes. Disciplinary action will be taken against those who are found to be negligent."
Get the full story in our print edition (April 14).
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Related article: Jail, cane for 'Lucifer' who raped girl, 12, at Chinese Garden
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