Man who assaulted boy in lift no longer CEO of The Prive Group
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SINGAPORE - A man who hurled vulgarities and assaulted a then 13-year-old boy in a lift is no longer the chief executive of food and beverage firm The Prive Group.
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In a Facebook post on Friday (Oct 22), the company said that French national Vu Han Jean-Luc Kha, 44, will no longer be holding the position "with immediate effect".
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After his conviction on Thursday, The Prive Group made a statement that day saying that he was still its CEO and that he had helped it "stay afloat amid the ongoing (Covid-19) restrictions".
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Unhappy with these comments, several netizens flamed the company as they felt that it continued to back Kha despite his offences. Some even said that they would boycott its eateries.
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In its statement on Friday, The Prive Group now said that it strongly condemns his actions and all acts of violence, adding: "(We) would like to reassure the public that his personal actions do not in any way reflect our core values.
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"We are glad that he is currently seeking the necessary treatments for his mental health and believe that the Singapore justice system will deal out the necessary punishment."
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On Thursday, Kha pleaded guilty in a district court to one count each of assault and harassment.
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Deputy Public Prosecutor Goh Yong Ngee had said the victim, who cannot be named due to a gag order, and his then 12-year-old brother were in a lift at Parklane Shopping Mall in Selegie Road on Nov 22, 2019, when it stopped on the fifth storey around 8.15pm.
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An intoxicated Kha and a Singaporean man, 41, joined the two boys in the lift. Kha directed lewd comments at the victim who felt alarmed.
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Kha then assaulted the older boy "for no apparent reason", said the DPP.
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The other man held Kha back and pushed him out of the lift after it stopped on the first storey. But Kha refused to leave and continued assaulting the victim.
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A male witness then alerted the police.
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On Thursday, defence lawyer Teh Ee-Von asked District Judge Lim Tse Haw to call for a report to assess her client's suitability for a mandatory treatment order (MTO), as he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
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Offenders given an MTO will undergo treatment for their mental conditions in lieu of jail time.
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Arguing against the defence's request, DPP Goh said: "Rehabilitation can also take place in a prison setting."
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Judge Lim did not call for an MTO suitability report on Thursday and Kha is expected to be sentenced on Dec 14.
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For assault, an offender can be jailed for up to two years and fined up to $5,000.
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For harassment, an offender can be jailed for up to six months and fined up to $5,000
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Alkhatib, S. (2021, October 22). Man who assaulted boy in lift no longer CEO of The Prive Group. The Straits Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/man-who-assaulted-boy-in-lift-no-longer-ceo-of-the-prive-group
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