Doctor charged with cheating, sexual offences against teenage girls
File photo of the State Courts in Singapore. (Photo: CNA/Jeremy Long)
SINGAPORE: A 39-year-old medical doctor was charged in court on Wednesday (Feb 1) with a slew of offences, including sexual crimes against at least three teenagers as well as cheating national healthcare groups into disbursing subsidies under the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS).
Dr Lim Yong Chin, who is also founder and director of the Access Medical Clinics group, faces a total of 28 charges. He was offered bail of S$120,000.
His alleged victims cannot be named due to a gag order imposed by the courts to protect their identities.
About four years ago, the Ministry of Health suspended 10 clinics under the Access Medical group from the CHAS scheme for “severe non-compliance” issues with subsidies.
At the time, Dr Lim told TODAY that “significant discounts” would be given for the entire duration of the clinics’ suspension to ensure continuity of care for affected patients.
CHAS gives low- to middle-income Singaporeans and those from the pioneer generation subsidies at more than 1,000 participating general practitioner (GP) clinics and 700 dental clinics islandwide.
Dr Lim's charges comprise:
- 15 counts of cheating the National Healthcare Group Polyclinics and SingHealth Polyclinics into disbursing CHAS subsidies for fictitious claims
- Two counts of sexual exploitation of a young person
- Two counts of sexual penetration of a minor under 16
- Two counts of voyeurism
- One count of insulting a woman's modesty
- Three counts each of driving while under suspension and driving without insurance
Court documents stated that between 2018 and 2020, he allegedly recorded videos of two girls - both aged around 19 - without their consent. One girl was performing an "intimate act" with him.
He is also accused of committing multiple indecent acts with a 14-year-old girl in 2021 by touching her private parts. It is unclear what his relationships with the girls were.
According to court records, Dr Lim's defence lawyer on Wednesday asked for him not to be named because "there may be associations" linking him to the alleged victims. The prosecution had only applied for the gag order to cover the alleged victims' identities.
District Judge Terence Tay rejected the request, citing no justification to extend the gag order to Dr Lim's identity.
Dr Lim will return to court on Mar 15.
Those convicted of cheating or abetment by instigation to commit cheating can be jailed for up to 10 years and fined.
If convicted of sexual penetration of a minor under 16, he could be jailed for up to 10 years, fined, or punished with both. If convicted of sexually exploiting a young person, he could be fined up to S$10,000 or jailed for up to five years, or both.
Those who commit voyeurism can be jailed for up to two years, fined, caned, or given any combination of the three punishments.
In response to CNA's queries, a Singapore Medical Council spokesperson said it is aware of the matter and will monitor the court proceedings before determining whether to go ahead with disciplinary proceedings against Dr Lim.
"In the meantime, Dr Lim has provided an undertaking that he will have a chaperone present when conducting a clinical examination of a female patient," the spokesperson added.
"The undertaking also includes restrictions on photography/video recordings of patients in his clinical practice."
