Singapore diplomat fined US$1,900 by Japanese court after filming naked boy at Tokyo public bath

SINGAPORE: A Singapore diplomat was fined 300,000 yen (US$1,908) on Thursday (Jun 13) by a court in Japan after filming a naked boy in a public bath in Tokyo, Kyodo news agency reported.

The 55-year-old man, identified as Sim Siong Chye by Japanese broadcaster NHK, was indicted on charges of trespassing and violating the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's Anti-Nuisance Ordinance.

Earlier on Thursday, Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) told CNA that the officer did not have diplomatic immunity because his posting had ended as scheduled in mid-April this year.

The man was a former counsellor at the Singapore Embassy in Tokyo. A counsellor is a diplomatic rank for officers serving overseas, such as in an embassy. According to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, a diplomat cannot be arrested.

Following reports that the officer had been fined by Japan authorities, MFA said in response to CNA queries on Thursday evening that it has begun disciplinary proceedings. 

"We understand that the officer has been dealt with in accordance with Japanese law and we respect the decision by the Japanese authorities.

"MFA takes a serious view of any misconduct by our officers and has commenced disciplinary proceedings," said the ministry. It did not elaborate further on these proceedings. 

"INTERESTED IN BATHS"

Japanese media reported on Thursday morning that the man had returned to Japan for questioning by the police.

He arrived in Japan on Jun 9 following a request made by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department through Japan’s Foreign Ministry, reported the Asahi Shimbun newspaper.

Yomiuri Shimbun said that the man had admitted to taking the photos, saying: "I was unable to control my desires when I saw a man naked."

"I took 20 to 30 (photos) myself," Asahi quoted him as saying, adding: "I was surprised by the Japanese public bath culture and became interested in baths."

MFA said in a statement earlier on Thursday that the officer "chose to return to Japan to cooperate with investigations" upon request by the Japanese authorities.

"The Singapore Embassy in Tokyo has engaged with the Japanese authorities to facilitate the ongoing investigations. We should wait for the outcome of these investigations," it added. 

HUNDREDS OF PHOTOS

Japanese media reported in February that the diplomat had used his mobile phone to secretly film a 13-year-old first-year middle school student in the changing room of a public bath. The boy was naked.

The police were called and "multiple naked photos of male customers" were found on his phone, according to Asahi at that time. It added that the diplomat refused to go to the police station but told officers he had taken such photos in other public baths.

When asked to delete the photos from his phone, the diplomat "deleted them on the spot", reported the Japanese news outlet. He allegedly deleted 700 photos from his phone, which he told police he had taken in the six months leading up to the incident.

MFA said previously that the diplomat had completed his tour of duty in Tokyo as scheduled and returned to Singapore.

It was made aware of the allegations on May 1 after it was contacted by Japanese media outlets. The diplomat did not inform the ministry of the incident until he was asked about it. 

He was then suspended from duties, with MFA saying on May 2 that it would be prepared to waive diplomatic immunity to facilitate investigations “if the alleged facts bear out”.