Lawyer Chia Boon Teck resigned as vice-president and council member of the Law Society of Singapore on 25 March 2025, following strong public and professional backlash over his remarks about a rape survivor.
The Law Society confirmed his immediate resignation in a brief statement, thanking Chia for his service and wishing him well in future endeavours.
The Law Society’s president, Lisa Sam Hui Min, had publicly called for Chia’s resignation earlier that day, citing his remarks as inconsistent with the Society’s values.
Chia’s departure came three days after he posted a controversial commentary on LinkedIn concerning the conviction of TikTok personality Lev Panfilov, who was found guilty of two counts of rape and other sexual offences.
In the now-deleted post dated 22 March, Chia criticised the victim’s actions, writing that she was “not exactly a babe in the woods” and questioning her awareness during what he described as a “marathon” of sexual activity.
He suggested that meeting someone via Tinder implied different expectations compared to professional platforms like LinkedIn. His post included ten points criticising the survivor’s conduct, prompting immediate accusations of victim-shaming.
The post was removed by 9pm on 23 March after screenshots circulated widely. Chia has since deleted his LinkedIn account.
The remarks were swiftly condemned by members of the legal profession, advocacy organisations, and government leaders.
Law Society president Lisa Sam Hui Min issued a public statement at 1am on 25 March, urging Chia to step down from both of his leadership roles. “The victim’s morality should not have been questioned in this manner,” she stated.
Sam added that Chia’s comments were “inimical for a person in a position of leadership to espouse” and did not align with the Society’s core values.
The Law Society of Singapore had initially responded on 24 March, asserting that Chia’s comments were made in his personal capacity and did not represent the Society’s views.
It reaffirmed its commitment to ethical standards and said it would act according to its internal protocols.
Minister for Law and Home Affairs K Shanmugam also criticised Chia in a Facebook post on 24 March, calling the remarks “troubling” and “surprising.”
Shanmugam stressed that Chia’s views were contrary to Singapore’s efforts over the past decade to better protect survivors of sexual violence.
He pointed to legal reforms, including the 2012 repeal of a clause in the Evidence Act that allowed questioning a victim’s sexual history, and the 2014 Protection from Harassment Act.
Other measures have included privacy protections during trial, stronger sentencing frameworks, and the establishment of the OneSAFE Centre for victim support.
Shanmugam also referenced the 2020 abolition of marital immunity for rape and the introduction of specialised police units for handling sexual and family violence cases.
“My concern is that some people might actually think the views he has expressed reflect the norms in Singapore,” the minister wrote, warning against attitudes that may deter survivors from reporting crimes.
Senior members of the legal community also voiced concern. Stefanie Yuen-Thio, joint managing partner at TSMP Law Corporation, was among the first to publicly call out Chia’s remarks.
She praised the Law Society’s decisive response and expressed concern for the emotional impact the controversy may have had on the survivor.
In a LinkedIn post, Yuen-Thio wrote, “The first priority when a crime has been committed should be to protect and care for those they are perpetrated against.”
Women’s rights group AWARE echoed this sentiment, issuing a statement condemning Chia’s comments and supporting Yuen-Thio’s remarks.
“Going on a Tinder date, entering someone’s bedroom, or being an actress or model is not consent to sex,” AWARE stated. “Saying ‘No’ means no — full stop.”
The group warned that such commentary from senior legal professionals reinforces harmful stereotypes and undermines the justice system.
Citing its work with survivors, AWARE noted that fear of disbelief remains a key reason why many sexual assault cases go unreported.
Chia’s resignation has brought an end to his leadership role but continues to spark discussions about accountability, professional conduct, and the responsibility of legal figures in shaping public discourse on sensitive issues.
The post Chia Boon Teck resigns from Law Society leadership after backlash over rape case comments appeared first on The Online Citizen.
