‘Simon Cowell of Singapore’ Ken Lim faces 5 new sexual misconduct charges

SINGAPORE: Five new charges of sexual misconduct have been brought against Ken Lim, the former Singapore Idol judge whom many considered the country’s Simon Cowell.

Lim, 59, was charged with assault in March of this year after he had molested a 25-year-old woman in November 2021. On Wednesday (Jun 28), Lim was charged with insulting the modesty of three women. This means there are now four alleged victims, and he faces six charges.

The ex-Singapore Idol judge, who runs the record label Hype Records, reportedly committed these offences between 1998 and 2013. Hype Records handles artists such as Chen Liping and Phyllis Quek and the singer Taufik Batisah, the first winner of Singapore Idol. 

Lim reportedly showed some of his victims obscene video clips and allegedly talked to another about her virginity, asking her how could she write “deeper songs if she was inexperienced”, as well as other questions of the same nature.

He also allegedly undid his belt and removed it in front of another victim, indicating that he wanted to initiate intimate contact with her.

Lim has switched his legal representation from Dentons Rodyk partner Navin Naidu to WongPartnership and is scheduled for a pre-trial conference next month.

If found guilty, he may spend jail time for as long as one year or each count of insulting a woman’s modesty.

For the molestation charge, he could be jailed for as long as two years if found guilty, be made to pay a fine, or both. As he is over 50, he would not be subject to caning.

In all the seasons of Singapore Idol from 2004, 2006, and 2009, Lim was a judge alongside Dick Lee, Florence Lian, Douglas Oliverio (for Season 1), and Jacintha Abisheganaden (for Season 2). This competition bore singers like Hady Mirza, Sezairi Sezali and Tabitha Nauser.

He also created another reality singing competition titled The Final 1, wherein he became part of the judges. This competition had two seasons in 2013 and 2015. /TISG

Singapore Idol Judge Ken Lim charged in court after molesting woman in his office