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A former director of the East Asian Institute (EAI) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) acted inappropriately with another staff member by hugging her against her will.
He filed a police report against Professor Zheng Yongnian in May last year, and the police issued him a stern warning in April this year.
He was suspended since May 20 last year and was asked to work from home, staying off campus while under investigation.
The woman alleged that on May 8, 2018, Professor Zheng put his hands on her shoulder and head during a meeting in his office.
He denied any such contact and the Committee of Inquiry (IOC) convened by NUS could not verify this due to lack of evidence.
HUG
On May 30, 2018, he allegedly hugged her and patted her buttocks during another meeting in his office. Professor Zheng, 58, admitted to hugging her in his room after the meeting, but denied patting her or touching her buttocks.
The IOC could not verify whether he touched or patted his buttocks due to lack of evidence.
In October 2018, Professor Zheng allegedly held onto the back of the staff member while taking a group photo. He denied it and the IOC could not verify it due to lack of evidence.
Yesterday, NUS issued a statement saying its own internal investigations following last year’s allegations were complete.
The IOC concluded that it was inappropriate for Professor Zheng, a senior colleague in a supervisory role, to hug a junior colleague without their consent in a professional meeting.
It established that he had violated the code of conduct for NUS personnel.
Claims that Professor Zheng sexually harassed staff appeared on social media in August this year, prompting him to issue a statement through his lawyers on September 4 denying all allegations.
He said at the time that he was also considering his legal options.
In its statement yesterday, NUS said that the appropriate sanction for its failure would have been a written warning.
But Professor Zheng left the university in September and is believed to have joined the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen.
“As Professor Zheng is no longer on the NUS staff, the university will include the result of the internal review in its personnel records,” the statement said.
“NUS and EAI have been providing assistance to the affected EAI staff member since she first raised this matter, and we will continue to provide the support she needs.”
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