SINGAPORE: A Singapore-based Malaysian professor accused of giving grades for sexual favors said that his confessions had been coerced by police. Tey Tsun Hang, a professor of law at the National University of Singapore, claimed in a written submission made to the High Court that five former students were also involved in getting better grades in exchange for sexual favors at the university. The professor also claimed he had made false confessions about these five during interrogations by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) regarding granting grades in return for corruptly obtaining sex and/or gifts. He also named them – four women and one man, including two assistant registrars with the Supreme Court and Darinne Ko Wen Hui. Ko is the only former student named in charges filed against Tey. Although Tey's case is before the Subordinate Courts, he filed a criminal motion in the High Court to get access to documents, which includes exam and essay results of these five. Tey faces 6 counts of corruption after being charged with obtaining gratification in 2010 from student Darinne Ko Wen Hu. He allegedly received sex on two occasions and gifts including a Montblanc pen worth $740, two tailor-made shirts worth $236 and an iPod worth $160, the court said. The university has suspended the professor pending an investigation. Tey has said he will fight the charges against him. His case comes after the filing of corruption charges last month against the former director of the country's drug agency and Singapore's former Civil Defence Force chief, for allegedly accepting sexual favors from female executives seeking agency contracts. Tey did not enter a plea in court on Friday, but told reporters after the hearing that he would defend himself against the charges “fearlessly and vigorously." “I am known to speak up, amongst other things on the Singapore legal system," he said. His writings are in good faith with no ill intent and his defense will be in a similar vein, Tey said. The ongoing sex scandals to have hit Singapore are worrying many in the country that women are being objectified and women's rights activists have told Bikyamasr.com in recent weeks that they would like to see the government crackdown hard on those involved in sex scandals. “It is the only way to ensure that we do not continue to allow this sort of thing to continue in our country," said one activist. If convicted, court officials told Bikyamasr.com that Tey faces up to five years in jail and a S$100,000 fine. He would likely lose his job.
