The Privé Group distances from CEO accused of assaulting teen in lift

The Privé Group is distancing itself from its CEO Jean-Luc Vu Han Kha who was recently accused of assaulting a 13-year-old boy in the lift and taunting him with lewd vulgarities. The incident took place in 2019. In a Facebook post, the brand said: “We strongly condemn his actions and all acts of violence and would like to reassure the public that his personal actions do not in any way reflect our core values.”

However, according to The Straits Times, initially, the group said that he was still the CEO and had helped the brand stay afloat amidst the challenging COVID-19 situation. The move saw an adversely negative reaction from netizens with some threatening to boycott the restaurant.

Today, The Privé Group added in the post that it would like to “sincerely apologise if any [of its] statements has been misconstrued as condoning his actions as we do not support violence in any way. We also encourage those who suspect they might have mental health issues to seek help early".

It added: "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." Yesterday, the CEO of the brand had pleaded guilty to the charges. According to the deputy public prosecutor, an intoxicated Kha had entered the lift with another man. Kha then made lewd comments at the victim and assaulted him by punching him. The other man passenger on the lift proceeded to hold Kha back and push him out when the lift stopped, but Kha carried on attempting to assault the victim.

Meanwhile, defence lawyer Teh Ee-Von told the district judge that Kha had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and asked for the court to assess Kha's suitability for a mandatory treatment order (MTO) which would enable him to undergo treatment for their mental conditionals rather than face jail time. The court did not call for the MTO.

To understand and better cope with the pressures of modern life, join us on 7-8 December 2021 at our National Counselling & Psychotherapy Conference 2021. This year, our focus is on promoting the overall mental health and emotional well-being of our community as we navigate these uncertain times. At the heart of our agenda is the belief in our strength and resolve - as individuals, families, and communities. 

Related articles:
F&B case study: The Privé Group
RainLily's video tells the seriousness of sexual harassment and violence in Hong Kong