Former Singapore Idol judge Ken Lim charged with molestation
Once the chief judge on reality singing competition Singapore Idol, Ken Lim Chih Chiang was on Thursday made to stand before a district judge after he was accused of molestation.
Lim, the executive director of record label Hype Records, is said to have molested a 25-year-old woman by touching her breast via skin-to-skin contact.
The alleged incident happened on Nov 23, 2021, at the Hype Records office in Henderson Road.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Chong Kee En asked for a gag order on the identity of the victim.
Lim turned up at the State Courts at about 8am, dressed in a black T-shirt and donning a mask.
As the charge was read out to him at about 9.25am, the 58-year-old kept his gaze firmly on the bench, his face still behind the grey mask.
Lim, who was represented by Mr Navin Naidu, partner at Dentons Rodyk & Davidson, was accompanied by his wife, former recording artist Judy Hsu. The couple have two sons.
Mr Naidu told the court that investigations have taken more than 15 months, and that Lim maintains his innocence and will not be pleading guilty.
The case was adjourned for bail of $10,000 to be posted for Lim before it was heard again at about 11.30am, when an application was made for him to leave Singapore.
Mr Naidu applied for Lim to travel to Phuket, Thailand, from May 25 to June 4 for a business trip to settle some “property management issues”.
DPP Chong said the prosecution had no objection to this, subject to an additional $10,000 bail to be posted.
The bailor who came forward was an elderly man and the court was told that he is Lim’s good friend.
District Judge Lorraine Ho granted permission for Lim to leave Singapore, subject to the additional bail of $10,000 and Lim providing a complete travel itinerary to the authorities prior to departure.
Lim set up Hype Records in 1992, with the firm quickly becoming one of the most established labels in Singapore.
The show promoter and entertainment company has under its artiste portfolio the likes of actresses Chen Liping and Phyllis Quek, as well as singers such as Taufik Batisah, the first winner of Singapore Idol.
Lim was notably the chief judge on Singapore Idol from 2004 to 2009, where he was known for his deadpan expression and curt criticism.
The contest made household names of singers such as Taufik, Hady Mirza, Sezairi Sezali and Tabitha Nauser.
Lim later created another reality singing competition called The Final 1 and was a judge on the show for its first and second seasons in 2013 and 2015.
His court case is expected to be heard again on April 14.
If convicted of outrage of modesty, Lim may be jailed for up to three years and fined. The punishment also includes caning, but those above the age of 50 are spared.
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