Benjamin Lim's death: Police officer testifies
The police officer who investigated the death of Benjamin Lim, 14, told the coroner's inquiry on Tuesday (May 17) how the boy had allegedly molested a girl, 11, in a lift on Jan 25.
ASP Mohammad Razif said the police had obtained closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage of the alleged molest from the lift after Benjamin died on Jan 26.
He had allegedly leapt from his bedroom window to his death.
The footage from the lift was viewed in-camera to protect the identity of the girl, though ASP Razif described what was shown.
He said it showed how Benjamin, a Secondary 3 student from North View Secondary School, had followed the girl into the lift, with the girl pressing the 14th storey button while Benjamin pressed 13.
Benjamin appeared to have dropped his phone, and as he bent down to pick it, he touched the girl's left buttock with his right hand.
The girl was seen turning around, watching Benjamin move away while he continued looking at her.
At the 13th storey, Benjamin exited the lift and the girl also stepped out briefly.
Said ASP Razif, referring to the girl's statement: "The girl said 'wait, wait, wait', following which Benjamin replied 'what is it'. The girl then said 'nothing'."
Following the exchange, she re-entered the lift and exited on her level.
Benjamin's family was present in a courtroom packed with reporters, lawyers and members of the public with state coroner Marvin Bay presiding over the hearing.
There is a gag order on Benjamin's next-of-kin and the girl.
The hearing continues in the afternoon.
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