SINGAPORE: A business consultant accused of having commercial
sex with an underage prostitute said Thursday that he had sex with
her in 2011 but not in 2010, when she was still under 18 years of
age.
Edward Whistler Goh faces two counts of having paid sex with a
minor - once in September 2010 and another in October 2010.
Goh said in court Thursday that he told the officer recording
his police statement that he met the girl several times. Goh added
that he also told the recording officer he did not have sex with
her on the two occasions in 2010 that he has been accused of.
The 50-year-old said the investigation officer was only
interested in the two charges, and that he told the officer he also
had sex with the girl in 2011.
The prosecution, in an attempt to poke holes in Goh's testimony
and discredit him, took issue with Goh’s revelation in court.
The prosecutor said Goh did not mention any of the above during
Wednesday's questioning, for which Goh apologised.
Goh is currently contesting the admissibility of his police
statement, maintaining that the statement was made under threats
and inducement.
The court will decide at the end of a “trial within a trial”
whether Goh’s police statement was made voluntarily, and thus
admissible. The main trial will then start after that.
The business consultant has accused his recording officer of
threatening to charge him with various crimes if he did not
cooperate during the investigation.
The threats include charging him for being a runner and helping
out with the prostitution ring, as well as having commercial sex
with a minor, said Goh.
The prosecution however questioned the rationale of Goh
admitting to having commercial sex with the girl, as opposed to
being charged for not cooperating with the police.
Goh then explained that the officer promised twice that he would
not be charged.
The district judge then asked what happened to the threats.
Goh said the threats persisted and that there were untruths in
his statement. "All I know was I wanted to get out of the place,"
said Goh.
The prosecution then asked why Goh signed the statement even
though there were so many untruths in it.
Goh replied saying that he was anxious to get out of the police
station, and that the officer told him he had to sign the statement
before he could go.
Goh is one of 51 men to be charged with having commercial sex
with the minor. He is the second man to contest the charges,
following Swiss national Juerg Buergin.
Goh can be fined and jailed up to seven years if found
guilty.
The trial continues.
- CNA/jc
