| What happened when |
11 JUL 2005
First day of NKF's defamation suit against The Straits Times (ST) for report by senior correspondent Susan Long. It stated that a gold-plated tap was installed and later replaced in private bathroom in Durai's office suite.
12 JUL 2005
Durai drops suit after acknowledging that the ST report was accurate and fair. It was revealed in court that NKF had misled the public on the number of patients it was treating and the number of years its reserves would last.
18 Apr 2006
Durai charged with deceiving NKF when he approved payments to two companies for services that were apparently not rendered.
21 Jun 2007
Durai convicted of using a fake invoice to cheat NKF into paying $20,000 to an interior designer friend betweenDecember 2003 and January 2004. 11 Aug 2008
Durai released from prison. |
WHAT advice would a world-class public relations (PR) person give a high-profile client who has just been released from prison?
Let me guess.
First, don't run with terror written all over your face, if a female reporter approaches you outside the prison gates.
That's what a certain TV celebrity did when released from Queenstown Remand Prison last year, for a drink driving offence.
Second, don't throw a handphone at a female photographer, don't kick and spit at others.
Such behaviour has been experienced by media professionals outside the Subordinate Courts.
Third, accept that others have a job to do and put on your best face.
Why show the world a scowl?
But wait, why hire a PR genius when you can take the cue free from T T Durai?
MANNERS
He could well have written the guide to pre- and post-jail etiquette.
He never looked like a man under siege when he was on trial.
And as he left the prison a free man yesterday, he had a smile on his face for the throng of photographers.
The silver that has appeared in his hair went well with his dignified conduct.
Durai always walked into the scrum with his head held high, body posture ramrod straight.
No sudden movements, or attempts to cover his face.
No harsh words for the media corps.
A picture of grace.
As the curtain came down on his former life, his swan song might well be this:
'The record shows I took the blows, and did it my way!'
This story was first published in The New Paper on 12 August 2008.
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