Lawyer Chia Boon Teck defended his remarks, however, saying it was aimed at drawing people’s attention to their situational awareness to guard against being assaulted, CNA reported.
In commenting on the conviction of an actor for raping a woman, Chia remarked in his LinkedIn post that many questions arose from the news report on the case.
He also said those who indulged “in one-night stands may wanna take note to protect themselves from attack, or accusations of attack”.
Chia had also alluded to the victim’s age and her occupation as an actress and model before stating that she was “not exactly a babe in the woods?”
He also wondered why the victim was hoping to get advice on scriptwriting from the convicted rapist, Lev Panfilov – a Singapore permanent resident from Russia – whom she had met on Tinder, a dating platform.
Chia’s remarks drew brickbats from a Singapore minister, the legal fraternity in the island state, and a women’s group.
Law and home affairs minister K Shanmugam said lawyers, especially those in senior positions representing the legal profession, must be mindful that their statements did not minimise or dismiss victims’ concerns as they could impact other victims and discourage them from reporting such crimes.
He said shaming and blaming victims was stepping over the line, adding that misogyny should have no place in Singapore.
“My concern is that some people might actually think that the views he has expressed indicate the norms in Singapore,” he was quoted as saying.
Lawyer Stefanie Yuen slammed Chia in a strongly worded LinkedIn post, saying she was appalled at Chia’s attitude as he is holding a high position in the Bar.
Yuen said unless he provided an acceptable explanation, Chia should step down from the council of the law society, a call that was similarly made by other lawyers.
The Association of Women for Action and Research rebuked Chia for mocking a rape survivor, saying it was both offensive and dangerous.
It said that when a senior lawyer cast doubts on a victim, it perpetuates the victim-blaming mentality.
“It affects how people see the justice system. It affects whether survivors will come forward to seek justice,” the association said.
In defending his post, Chia said he was sharing his views as a criminal lawyer, adding that his comments were meant to encourage reflection on how individuals can better protect themselves in social situations.
“This is not about shifting responsibility but about understanding real-world risks,” he said. - FMT
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