New Zealand Parole Board -

Parole Hearing

Under section 21(1) of the Parole Act 2002

David Kang Huat LIM

Hearing: 25 February 2019

at [withheld] via AVL to Waikeria Prison

Members of the Board:

• Judge Neil MacLean – Panel Convenor
• Mr L Tawera
• Ms G Hughes

DECISION OF THE BOARD

1. David Kang Huat Lim was scheduled for a first appearance before the Board today.  We have just been advised that he has waived his appearance.
2. Mr Lim is aged 44 and is subject to a deportation order.
3. His sentence is for five years having been found guilty of a range of offences including assaults and stupefying a patient.
4. The five year sentence commenced on 18 August 2017 and he became eligible for parole on 1 February 2019.  The statutory release date is 1 June 2022.  The RoC*RoI is 0.157 and the security classification low/medium.
5. The Judge’s sentencing notes describe a situation where using his knowledge as a practising doctor Mr Lim took advantage of a number of his male patients.  As a result of his actions he has been taken off the medical register.
6. [withheld].
7. Mr Lim remains in denial of the offending and that has meant that progress on rehabilitation has been problematic.  He has been seen by a psychologist on three occasions in March and April 2018 and throughout those continually denied offending.  The recommendation of Psychological Services is that should he accept responsibility for offending he could be then referred for a more in-depth psychological treatment to address his sexual offending.
8. The report goes on to note that when he was asked why his three victims would come forward and accuse him of indecent assault he said they were all seasonal workers for a man whom he had a sexual relationship with and they had become paranoid about his sexuality.
9. We have a certain amount of information about what support there is for him in Malaysia.  The information we have is that he has family support and his family are now fully aware of his offending.  Apparently his plan is to retire on his return to Malaysia.
10. The Board is faced with a dilemma, namely that Mr Lim continues to deny his offending which shuts out rehabilitation possibilities.
11. We have to consider the risk to the community to which he will be deported in due course but our view is that risk remains undue until the situation is changed with his acceptance of responsibility and at least some attempts of rehabilitation made.
12. Accordingly, parole is declined today and the Board will see him again in February 2020.  Should Mr Lim change his position regarding acceptance and responsibilities and be prepared to engage in appropriate rehabilitative activity, the option of an application to bring the next hearing date forward could be entertained.