The tragic death of 14-year-old Benjamin Lim went through a complicated series of national exposure. Initially reported by mainstream media simply as a case of a boy found dead at the foot of his Yishun block, reports by alternative publications — in particular The Online Citizen — painted a different, more complex picture. 

Benjamin’s family even penned down an open letter narrating everything that transpired throughout the course of Jan 26, 2016 — from when young Benjamin was taken from school to the police station until the boy’s apparent suicide. 

Yesterday however was the first time Ministry of Law and Home Affairs K Shanmugam ever spoke openly about the case. In fact, it was a full disclosure; here’s what happened from the point of view of the authorities: 

January 25th, 2016

– Police report lodged by 11-year-old girl claiming to have been molested in a lift.
– Relevant CCTV footages retrieved
– Boy in school uniform identified as the suspect. Later identified as 14-year-old Benjamin Lim.
– Police identifies uniform — Northview Secondary School
– He appeared to have made a detour and went to another block in the neighbourhood before going home — seemingly following the 11-year-old girl. They don’t seem to know each other.
– Benjamin followed the girl into the lift quickly after she entered it. Minister does not say what the CCTV footage revealed he did. 
– Benjamin stepped out of the lift at the 13th floor, saying something to the girl before he stepped outside. She does not follow him.
– Benjamin goes down the staircase to the 12th floor before taking the lift down to the ground floor. 
– Girl reports to her father about what happened. Family files police report on same day. 

January 26th, 2016

– Five police officers came down to North View Secondary School. They were wearing plain clothes, in unmarked cars.
– Officers show screenshot of CCTV footage to school officials, who identified Benjamin. Benjamin brought to Principal’s office.
– A police officer speaks to Benjamin about the incident, with some of the school’s educators present.
– Post-interview, Benjamin was advised by the principal to call his mother, which he did. Police officer also spoke to his mother, informing her that the boy will be brought to Ang Mo Kio Division to give a statement. 
– Benjamin was brought to the station in an unmarked car with three officers. One officer alighted, leaving the boy with two adults in the car. 

– At the police station, one officer records Benjamin’s statement at his desk, an open plan office
– Other officers present at their respective workstations, doing their own work. Benjamin was not handcuffed at any time. 
– Benjamin given time to recollect his thoughts about the incident, and gave a written statement at 12.15pm.
– The teen was noted to have been co-operative throughout, and declined an offer for food and drink after the interview.
– Benjamin was placed in a secured Temporary Holding Room alone while he awaited his mother to take him home.
– Police records statement from the mother, who was a the station.
– Benjamin was released on bail, and left the police station with his mother and sister after spending three and a half hours there.
– At home, Benjamin was informed by his mother that his school did not allow him to attend a school camp.
– Benjamin was found dead at the foot of his block at 4.20pm.

The minister also made a point to say that it was likely that Benjamin would only get a warning or be placed on a Guidance Programme if Benjamin had not taken his life. 

“It is likely that on the evidence available to us, Benjamin would have received no more than a warning,” Shanmugam says. “He is unlikely to have been charged in Court. Police would have taken into account his age, and the fact that this is the first time.”

That may be so, but the fact remains that young Benjamin did take his own life — an act that was brought upon by extreme distress.