The state is not out to police morality, and neither is it out to enforce marriage vows, the prosecution in the Ng Boon Gay trial said on Tuesday.
In his opening address, Deputy Public Prosecutor Tan Ken Hwee said that a married civil servant may, for a variety of reasons, seek out the company of persons other than his or her spouse, and this may lead to sexual relations, breaching marriage vows. "We do not, however, police morality. Neither do we use the criminal justice system to enforce marriage vows," he said.
"If a married, male civil servant were to engage in sexual activity with a consenting individual other than his wife, such as a stranger, an old flame, a neighbour, or even a prostitute, that would be a matter to be dealt with between him and his wife, his family, and maybe his community. It would not, ordinarily, attract criminal sanctions."
But, he said, "the situation is very different when a public officer enters or continues a sexual relationship with a person who has business dealings with the very department that he is in charge of".
