Singapore’s former diplomat referred to prosecutors for alleged filming of male teen at Tokyo public bath

TOKYO, JAPAN: The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s Youth Development Division sent a 55-year-old former counsellor at the Singapore Embassy in Japan to prosecutors on Thursday (13 June).

The former counsellor, who has been named by Japanese media as Sim Siong Chye, is accused of filming a junior high school boy in a public bathhouse in Tokyo’s Minato Ward in February, violating laws against filming sexual situations and the anti-child prostitution and pornography law.

According to Japanese media, the police stated that Sim, who completed his diplomatic term and returned to Singapore in April, came back to Japan in June for questioning following a request from authorities.

Sim reportedly admitted to the charges, stating, “I came to speak as a private citizen and reflect. I couldn’t control my desire upon seeing a naked body.”

The police have recommended that prosecutors take appropriate action.

It was earlier reported in May that Sim was caught on 27 February using a smartphone to film a nude 13-year-old male teenager in the changing room of a men’s public bath.

Security footage from the venue captured the former diplomat pointing his phone at other patrons, leading to his identification by an employee.

The incident occurred in Tokyo’s Minato ward, where the Singapore embassy is also located.

It was said that he declined to give his smartphone to the police and, at the request of the student’s parents, deleted the photos he had taken of the boy that night.

Reportedly, the police officer requested the diplomat come to the station voluntarily, but while the diplomat said, “I will answer questions here,” he refused to go.

The police discovered over 700 images on the diplomat’s phone, which he admitted to deleting on the night of the incident.

He reportedly told officers that he regretted his actions and could not explain why he committed them.

Sim was not charged, and he had diplomatic immunity from arrest under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations until his departure from Japan.

The Singapore embassy confirmed with Asahi Shimbun that the diplomat had completed his duty in Tokyo and returned to Singapore on 12 April and said it was not aware of the filming incident until the press reported on it.

It was earlier reported that Japanese police were in talks with the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs to have the suspect present himself for questioning.

Back in May, MFA stated, “We are aware of the situation and have reached out to Tokyo authorities for further information. MFA expects all its staff to uphold the highest standards of conduct and comply with the laws of host countries.”

Internet sleuths noticed that his name was quietly removed from the MFA’s website following the news of the Japanese police statement.