Leisure lawyer Samuel Seow struck off for abusing staff

SINGAPORE – Leisure lawyer Samuel Seow Theng Beng, who bodily and verbally abused three staff over a one-month interval in 2018, was struck off the rolls on Wednesday (Might 18).

In a written judgment, the Court docket of Three Judges stated a placing off was warranted as Seow’s conduct demonstrated a personality defect rendering him unfit to be a member of the authorized career.

The court docket, which is the very best disciplinary physique for the authorized career, stated Seow’s behaviour was egregious and “evinced such volatility and lack of self-control that it detracts from his means to discharge his skilled capabilities”.

The court docket, comprising Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon and Justices Andrew Phang and Steven Chong, added that Seow’s conduct had induced grave dishonour to the standing of the career.

Seow, 49, had admitted earlier than a disciplinary tribunal in 2019 to eight situations {of professional} misconduct involving three ladies staff at his workplace in South Bridge Highway between March 16, 2018, and April 17, 2018.

A 30-minute audio recording of the incident on April 17, 2018, was circulated on-line that yr, whereas two leaked video clips from that day had been uploaded on YouTube and went viral in April 2019.

Seow, who was recognized for representing celebrities, ran his agency Samuel Seow Regulation Company in addition to his expertise administration firm Beam Artistes from the workplace.

5 of the fees associated to his “intemperate and boorish conduct” in the direction of Ms Rachel Kang Pei Shan, an artiste and occasions govt, between March 16, 2018, and April 3, 2018.

They concerned throwing recordsdata, containers, a steel stapler and a pockets in her path, shouting at her aggressively and threatening to take a knife to kill her.

The opposite three expenses associated to acts of violence on April 17, 2018, in opposition to Ms Kang; Ms Brenda Kong Shin Ying, a lawyer who can be Seow’s niece; and Ms Serene Tan Tzuu Yen, a secretary and conveyancing govt.

Seow first jabbed Ms Kang’s brow together with his finger and pushed the recordsdata that she was holding in opposition to her chest.

He then grabbed Ms Kong’s arms, pushed her in opposition to a desk, repeatedly slapped her, jabbed his finger at her brow, and pushed her such that she fell backwards.

Seow then pushed Ms Tan to the ground. He additionally aggressively berated Ms Kong and Ms Tan.