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CPIB statements were taken under duress: Tey Tsun Hang

National University of Singapore (NUS) law professor Tey Tsun Hang, 41, claimed in the sex-for-grades trial Tuesday morning that anti-graft investigators acted like thugs to obtain the kind of statements they wanted from him (Yahoo! photo)

[UPDATE 2 Apr, 5pm: Adding in report of Tey crying in court]

National University of Singapore (NUS) law professor Tey Tsun Hang, 41, claimed in the sex-for-grades trial Tuesday morning that anti-graft investigators acted like thugs to obtain the kind of statements they wanted from him.

He alleged that he was coerced by Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) officers to cross out a paragraph in his second statement and instead, write down that he had altered grades of students during the process of board of examiners’ meetings.

Tey, a former district judge, has been accused of corruption by obtaining gratification in the form of gifts, dinner and sex from Ko, his former student, between May and July 2010.

“There was fury in me… I crossed (the paragraph), I wrote what (CPIB investigator Wilson Khoo) wanted. I told myself there and then, if CPIB wanted to behave in this manner, that’s the kind of statement they will have in court,” stated Tey on the witness stand. “I did not bother to put up any resistance. To me, it was oppressively taken and it deserves to be shown in court, how it was taken.”

‘Thuggish behavior’

Tey continued his allegations about the “thuggish behaviour” that CPIB investigators Wilson Khoo and Bay Chun How showed him during investigations.

He said that he was interrogated on 5 April immediately after his discharge from Alexandra Hospital, despite having a medical certificate until 8 April. He was admitted to hospital after falling ill during interrogations on 2 April.

During interrogations on 5 April in Bay’s office, Tey said that Bay took his medical certificate and shouted back, “You think I f**k care, ah?”

Tey alleged he was constantly badgered by Bay across a range of allegations, including having sex with student Darinne Ko, 23. When Tey asked if he could write his own statement, Bay slammed his fist on the table and shouted an expletive at him.

After being escorted later that day to the office of CPIB deputy director Teng Khee Fatt, Tey said he broke down and cried, recounting the “inhumane and dehumanising manner” that officers there treated him.

In the afternoon session, The Straits Times reported that Tey broke down and cried on the witness stand while recounting the interrogations. This prompted Chief District Judge Tan Siong Thye to adjourn the trial for 10 minutes to allow Tey to regain his composure.

The ongoing “trial within a trial” is for Tey to prove that his statements made to CPIB were taken under duress. If proven so, those statements will not be admitted into the main trial.

Tey represents himself as defence attorney. The trial resumes in the afternoon.

Related articles:
CPIB officer said 'you only got 1% chance of survival': Tey Tsun Hang
NUS law prof claims he paid ex-student for gifts, dinner
Star witness in sex-for-grades trial: I was coerced into making parts of my statement