The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has taken decisive action by dismissing a diplomat, Christopher Sim Siong Chye, who faced legal repercussions for an inappropriate incident in Tokyo last year. Sim was found guilty of filming a 13-year-old boy in a public bath, resulting in a fine and ultimately his termination from the ministry.
According to the details published in the government gazette, Sim was fired from his position at the ministry following his conviction by a Japanese court. The incident involved Sim using his mobile phone to secretly capture images of the underage boy in the changing room of a public bath in Tokyo. Upon being confronted by the authorities, it was reported that he had “…deleted 700 photos from his phone, which he told police he had taken in the six months leading up to the incident.”
The actions of the diplomat not only led to his dismissal but also raised serious concerns over the breach of ethical and legal boundaries by individuals representing Singapore overseas. It was revealed that despite being made aware of the allegations in May 2024, Sim did not disclose the incident to the MFA until he was questioned about it. This lack of transparency and accountability further exacerbated the situation, prompting his suspension from duties.
During the investigation, Sim admitted to the wrongdoing, expressing his inability to control his impulses and attributing his actions to cultural curiosity, as he was reported to have been “…surprised by the Japanese public bath culture and became interested in baths.”
