Lawyer under probe for sexual misconduct after claims by Reform Party's Charles Yeo
SINGAPORE — A prominent young lawyer married to a top social media influencer is being investigated by his firm over allegations of sexual misconduct, news site Today reported on Thursday (23 July).
The lawyer, 32-year-old Imran Rahim, has agreed to be put on leave of absence from Tan Kok Quan Partnership (TKQP), where he is a senior associate.
In March, Imran married Andrea Chong, 28, who more commonly known as Drea Chong. She has over 300,000 Instagram followers and employs a handful of full-time staff. The couple met at Victoria Junior College and have been together since 2007.
When contacted for comments, a TKQP spokesperson would only refer Yahoo News Singapore to the Today article.
According to Today, a TKQP spokesperson said, “The firm takes all allegations impacting an employee’s moral, social and professional standing as an individual, as a member of the firm and, in the larger scheme of things, as a member of the legal profession very seriously.”
The spokesperson added that the firm is looking into the matter and implements a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual impropriety.
The claims started circulating on Tuesday when Reform Party (RP) politician and lawyer Charles Yeo, 30, took to Instagram to post videos and messages challenging Imran to serve him with a writ of defamation.
Yeo alleged that Imran took advantage of young debaters and “abused young interns or tried to hit on them inappropriately”, but neither elaborated nor provided evidence to back up these claims.
In a message he posted on Wednesday, Yeo appealed for “victims of Imran Rahim to come forward to assist with the evidence if he does indeed sue me”.
In another message, Yeo said, “I’m not afraid of Imran and the moment I am served the writ I’ll bring the matter to the media and email all my media contacts and have it blasted all around Singapore.”
Yeo also said on his Facebook page on Thursday, “It doesn’t matter whether Imran Rahim is a NUS (National University of Singapore) law graduate, an accomplished debater, a lawyer, or connected with the PAP. All allegations against him must be investigated. I also challenge him once again to file POHA (Protection from Harassment Act) complaints against me or serve me with the Writ of Defamation.”
According to his profile on TKQP’s website, Imran was a champion debater and on the Dean’s List in his final year of undergraduate studies at NUS’ law faculty. At the firm, he focuses on commercial litigation and dispute resolution.
The lawyer is also active in grassroots work, having volunteered for legal talks and pro bono clinics. The son of a factory worker and a housewife, he has been cited by Cabinet ministers Ong Ye Kung and Masagos Zulkifli in their speeches.
Imran responded to the comments by Yeo in an Instagram post on Thursday. He said he does not know Yeo or why the RP member has launched the “personal attacks” against him.
“I deny the wide-ranging allegations made by Charles Yeo and will be taking the necessary steps to vindicate myself…I am currently assisting my employers with internal investigations.”
Yahoo News Singapore has reached out to Imran and Chong for comments.
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