Please stop filming..I'm really afraid

Please stop filming..I'm really afraid
PHOTO: Please stop filming..I'm really afraid

SINGAPORE - Once shot, twice shy.

The boss who was caught on video apparently slapping an intern was begging not to be filmed again when faced with a camera phone last Tuesday.

Please stop filming me, I beg you, he repeatedly said, when the family of his 29-year-old former subordinate confronted him at his office.

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The first video, lasting 17 seconds, showed him repeatedly hitting the head of an employee and using vulgar language. It went viral on the Internet after another intern from the Singapore Institute of Management uploaded it on YouTube last Friday.

On Tuesday afternoon, the 29-year-old graduate's family - his parents, cousin and cousin's wife - confronted his boss, Mr Alan Lee, of Encore eServices, reported Shin Min Daily News.

The ex-intern had described his former boss as a tiger. He even drew a caricature of him in a tiger's outfit.

But on Tuesday, the tiger had turned into a tabby cat. He appeared meek and remorseful in front of the family.

Even before sitting down, Mr Lee was apologising profusely to the family, reported Shin Min Daily News.

Initially, Mr Lee spoke without hesitation.

"I want to make clear one thing: That it was my fault. I will take responsibility for this.

"I will be responsible to (the victim), his parents, his relatives, and his friends. It's my fault," he said.

Stammering and stuttering throughout, he apologised for his poor command of Mandarin, but did not speak in English as he wanted the victim's parents to understand him.

It was only when he spotted the victim's cousin re-positioning his mobile phone that he realised something was amiss.

"Are you... videoing this?" he asked.

The victim's cousin replied: "Of course, we don't have any form of evidence of what you just said. What if you deny saying this in the future?"

Putting his palms together, he said: "I beg you, really, can we talk about this in private?"

The cousin's wife said: "You are doing well now. Since you know now that you were in the wrong, I want to see you express your remorse.

"Since you're trying to apologise, you don't have to worry about us filming this.

"The police may not understand the whole situation, but we will look for a lawyer. We will continue this game with you."

By then, Mr Lee was fidgeting in his seat, visibly uncomfortable.

The cousin's wife continued: "You don't have to worry about being filmed, since your photos are already splashed all over the papers...

"We will make a complaint at the Ministry of Manpower later, and file a civil suit against you. This is what you deserve.

"Now I just want to hear how sorry you are, and what you intend to do with (the victim)."

In halting Mandarin, Mr Lee insisted he was sincere in apologising.

Frowning and shaking his head, he once again begged the victim's family: "I just have a request. Please do not video.

"I am afraid. I am really afraid."

Even when the victim's cousin said he had stopped filming, Mr Lee was cautious.

"Can you switch the phone off, and put it into your pocket?

"Sorry, I already told you, I am really afraid," he said.

Victim says: 

YES, HE LACKS CONFIDENCE

The graduate agreed with a counsellor's assessment of him - he was someone with low self-esteem and who seeks affirmation from work - but said he was a good worker.

He would stay past 6pm often to make sure his work was done well. The only thing he feels he needs to improve is his communication skills.

WHY HE TOLERATED BULLYING

"Everything that happened is between me and (Mr Lee). I didn't want to cause (Mr Lee's) family any inconvenience or be subjected to any form of pressure as they were not involved in any of the incidents. I won't feel good about it."

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