[bobby]

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. 

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 insuranc
  
  

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.