HR manager fined, jailed over abuse in cafe

HR manager fined, jailed over abuse in cafe

SINGAPORE - A human resource manager who pointed at a cafe waitress' breast and asked if his coffee was "from this machine" was fined $1,000 on Monday for insulting the woman's modesty.

Pannirchelvam Ramachandra, 45, was also jailed for 31/2 months for striking the cafe supervisor and throwing a bowl at him.

Pannirchelvam was in the cafe of a hotel in Bendemeer between 7am and 9am with a friend when he ordered two cups of coffee.

The waitress, 33, asked him if he wanted the buffet coffee, which was complimentary, or coffee from an espresso machine, which had to be paid for.

He ordered the espresso coffee and asked the insulting question when the waitress served the order. When the cafe supervisor presented the bill, Pannirchelvam turned abusive.

The supervisor walked away and video footage showed Pannirchelvam filling a bowl with noodles from the buffet and flinging it at the man's head. He later struck the supervisor's nose with the back of his hand.

The Straits Times is not naming the victims or the hotel in order to protect the identity of the waitress.

Pannirchelvam, who has previous convictions for disorderly behaviour and causing hurt to others, told the district court that he had alcohol dependency problems.

He will start his jail term on Jan 16 so as to settle work and family commitments.

Pannirchelvam could have been jailed for up to two years and fined up to $5,000 just for the offence of hitting the supervisor.

khush@sph.com.sg


Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

This website is best viewed using the latest versions of web browsers.