Tey Tsun Hang to call 17 witnesses in sex—for—grades trial

SINGAPORE: The law professor accused of corruption in a sex—for—grades trial will be calling 17 witnesses to his defence.

Tey Tsun Hang was in the Subordinate Courts on Monday for a closed—door meeting to decide on the defence witness list.

The 41—year—old said he will call five witnesses to testify in the "trial within a trial".

Of the five, three of them are doctors. The other two are Simon Chesterman, Dean of the National University of Singapore’s law faculty, and Professor Tracey Evans Chan, Tey’s colleague.

Another 12, including Tey’s former student and current Assistant Registrar at the Supreme Court, Colin Seow, is expected to be called to the stand as defence witnesses in the main trial.

Tey said staff of NUS law faculty are expected to be called to the stand as well.

A trial within a trial is called to determine the admissibility of Tey’s six statements to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau. Tey said those statements were made under duress and are not admissible.

When the first tranche of the corruption trial ended in late January, prosecution asked for its trial within a trial case to be left open. This is for it to decide if it intends to call any other witnesses.

The defence case for this is expected to start when the trial resumes in April.

From the defence side, Tey is expected to be the first to testify in the trial within a trial. The judge will then decide on the admissibility of the statements and the main trial will begin after that.

The trial resumes on April 1 and is expected to last three weeks.

Tey faces allegations of obtaining gratification in the form of gifts and sex from former student Ms Darinne Ko, 23, between May and July 2010, in return for giving her better grades.

—CNA/ac