Benjamin Lim’s case –Thou shalt not give false witness

Benjamin Lim’s case –Thou shalt not give false witness

The Benjamin Lim’s case is a hot potato that must be handled with extreme care. Threats, insinuation, allegations, wrong facts etc etc are a no no. Do not try to tell lies or tell half truths and do not try to tell untruths.

The TOC was taken to task by Shanmugam for ‘orchestrated campaign to tarnish police force’. How true was that, only the court can decide. TOC has denied the charge and given its reply in the media. Among the accusations by Shanmugam were that the TOC were reporting falsehoods. These are strong charges that could see TOC in court.

The two ministers made their ministerial statements in Parliament as the facts of the case, the truth. Sure no one would dare to go to Parliament to lie about such a thing. Now Benjamin’s father has come out to dispute some of the facts.  Let me quote a report by Clifford Lee in the Today paper,

‘Although a school counsellor had called his wife that day, the father of Benjamin Lim said the call was not to check on their son’s well being.

Neither was there  a discussion between the counsellor and his wife on whether it would be better for Benjamin to skip a school camp starting the following day so he could be with his family, the father added….

“When the school’s counsellor called Benjamin’s mother at 4.13 pm, he merely informed her that the school had a meeting, and Benjamin will be excluded from the camp. Before the mother can ask any further questions, (he hung up).” Mr Lim said, “(In) the entire conversation…there were no questions asked about (Benjamin) at all … zero questions about (his) well being,”….

Benjamin was found dead at the foot of his block at 4.20 pm.’

Someone, or some people, would be looking very ugly when the truth is confirmed.  For the time being, the MOE spokesperson said that ‘the account given by the Minister in Parliament was based on the facts as we know them at this stage.’ TOC can quote this to defend the allegation of spreading falsehood in addition to their claim that what they reported were mistakes or factual errors as they were told.

With the social media in action, do not tell lies, do not tell half truths or untruths. It can be very embarrassing when caught with the pants down and standing under the spotlight.