In the latest development, the Law Society of Singapore Vice-President Chia Boon Teck has officially resigned from his position following strong criticism from netizens over his controversial comments on a recent rape case.
His remarks, which many felt were victim-shaming, sparked significant outrage online and led to calls for him to step down.
What happened?
Mr. Chia made comments on LinkedIn following the sentencing of a man convicted of raping an intoxicated woman. His post suggested that women should “protect themselves” by avoiding getting drunk or going to a man’s place late at night. This did not sit well with many people because it appeared as though he was placing the blame on the victim rather than the perpetrator.
Due to the backlash, Law Society President Lisa Sam stepped in and asked Mr. Chia to resign. She stated that Mr. Chia’s remarks were not aligned with the values of the Law Society, and someone holding a leadership position should not be making comments that could be seen as shaming or blaming victims.
Additionally, Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam also spoke out about the issue.
In a Facebook post, the Minister of Law for Singapore said that Mr. Chia’s comments, given his senior position, could potentially misrepresent societal norms in Singapore and discourage other victims from coming forward. He stressed that “shaming and blaming victims steps over the line” and emphasized that “misogyny should have no place in our society.”
In response to the backlash, Mr. Chia removed his LinkedIn post and attempted to clarify his intention, stating that he was not blaming the victim but rather highlighting the importance of being aware of one’s surroundings. However, the damage was already done, and the Law Society decided it was better for him to step down.
Mr Chia is the co-managing director of law firm Chia Wong Chambers. According to his profile on his firm’s website, he had been the vice-president of the Law Society since August 2023 and was its treasurer prior to that.
