Molestation trial: Athletics coach claims he made officer reveal accusers' names to him
Track-and-field coach Loh Siang Piow (pictured) knew the identities of his two victims in his heart — even though the investigating officer did not tell him their names — because he knew what he had done to them, Deputy Public Prosecutor Gail Wong suggested.
SINGAPORE — When veteran track-and-field coach Loh Siang Piow found out that he was under police investigations for allegedly molesting two teenagers, he told people in the sports fraternity the names of his accusers.
How did he know who they were? The prosecution suggested that he knew them in his heart because of what he allegedly did to them, and he spread their names around because he wanted to embarrass or pressurise them into dropping the case against him.
Loh, better known as Loh Chan Pew, protested and said that these were not true.
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On Wednesday (Dec 12), while the 74-year-old was cross-examined by Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Gail Wong, he said that it was through investigation officer Goh Teck Heng that he knew about the allegations. They had a phone conversation on July 31 in 2016.
However, this was disputed by Mr Goh when he testified earlier. Mr Goh told the court that he did not tell Loh the names of the teenagers over the phone.
DPP Wong then said that Loh knew the identities of the alleged victims before a police interview on Aug 2 that same year, because he knew what he had done to them.
In response, Loh said: “No! Only on that day when Mr Goh called and told me.”
Loh faces two charges of using criminal force on his then-18-year-old private trainee while massaging her thighs to ease muscle cramps. The incidents were said to have taken place at Tampines Stadium on two Sundays between January and March 17 in 2013.
He allegedly rubbed her private parts over her clothing during the massages on a bench along a corridor on the first occasion, and on a massage bed inside an equipment room in the second instance.
Loh faces three more charges involving another 16-year-old athlete, but those were stood down for the trial.
The identities of the two accusers cannot be made public due to a court order.
Recalling what happened when he first heard of the accusations from Mr Goh over the phone, Loh said: “I was jumping hot… I told the officers you must tell me who are the people, else I would not hang up.”
He was appeased and hung up only because the investigating officer told him the names, he added.
Asked for more details of what Mr Goh told him, Loh said: “He said, ‘Two girls are making a complaint on you molesting them’. So I said, ‘You must tell me the two girls’ names’. He told me the two names.”
After Loh was informed of the allegations on July 31, a supporter who believed he was innocent sent him a photograph of the then-18-year-old accuser celebrating her birthday at a junior college with him and some other people.
DPP Wong said that the picture does not show that the teen continued to be on good terms with him as of April 2013.
Disagreeing, Loh said: “She accused me of molesting her, and she still happily continued training with me, and brought a cake to celebrate. I don’t think that is normal…
“I cannot explain to you really, if she is normal or abnormal. The reason people sent me this photo is that they don’t believe that after taking this photo, she can say that I molested her.”
DPP Wong then said that since Mr Goh did not tell him the dates of the alleged offences during the phone call or during his face-to-face meeting with him two days after that, the reason Loh obtained the photo that was apparently taken in April 2013 was because he had “personal knowledge of the incident”.
Loh again disagreed.
During his time on the witness stand, Loh — a former national sprinter — also said that he recently relinquished the post of vice-president (competitions organising) with the Singapore Athletics Association. He did not take part in the election.
Asked why he applied for a leave of absence from the association before he was charged in court, he said that news of the allegations against him “spread like a wildfire” between Aug 3 and 5, right after he was called up to make a police statement, and he wanted to “save the (reputation of the) association”.
He added that even people in Hong Kong and Taiwan heard of the allegations at that time.
The trial is into its 19th day. Loh will continue to take the witness stand on Thursday.
If convicted of using criminal force on a person with the intent to outrage modesty, Loh may be jailed up to two years, fined, or both.
As he is above the age of 50, he will not be caned.
