A high-profile attorney has dropped his case over wide-ranging allegations of sexual misconduct spread by Reform Party chairman and political crusader Charles Yeo.
Yeo and lawyer Imran Rahim jointly announced they reached a friendly resolution over a month after Imran commenced legal proceedings against Yeo, who is also a lawyer, for spreading allegations against him over Instagram. In fact, the two now appear to be buds, if the smiles in a photo timed with yesterday’s announcement are to be believed.
Though neither party elaborated on the details, Yeo said he no longer stood by the allegations he had propagated, which included accusations Imran had sexually abused his subordinates. Imran, who has denied all the allegations, said he’s quit the law firm Tan Kok Quan Partnership to focus on his family.
“I would like to thank Charles for agreeing to amicably settle our disagreements,” Imran wrote online.
Imran, 32, who recently tied the knot with social media influencer Andrea Chong, is best known for helping prosecute activist Roy Ngerng on behalf of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in 2014.
“I respect the work that he has done for the disadvantaged in our society and wish him all the best in his career as a lawyer and as the chairman of the Reform Party,” he added.
Neither man had responded to Coconuts Singapore’s requests for comment as of publication time. Iman’s name has been removed from his former firm’s website.
The lawyer-on-lawyer action began In late July when Imran initiated legal action against Yeo for publishing accusations he had sexually abused and made unwanted sexual advances. Yeo cited accounts from Imran’s accusers he had received.
Imran denied the allegations and said that an internal investigation was taking place. It was not clear whether the Tan Kok Quan review was still active.
“The matter with Mr Imran Rahim has been resolved amicably and we wish each other well,” Yeo, 30, said Tuesday. “In particular I wish to state that I had not endorsed the allegations (which have yet to be proven).”
In the photo posted to Instagram, the duo is seen having a meal with their respective lawyers, M Ravi, who represented Yeo, and Abraham Vergis from Providence Law Asia.
Yeo, who gained a following despite losing July’s election, did not deny the original accusations made by at least four individuals he said gave similar accounts of Imran’s behavior.
Defeated at the polls, Charles Yeo is a gift that keeps on giving
“Now re [Imran Rahim], a few days ago I received a message alerting me to allegations of sexual abuse of young debaters by IR using alcohol,” Yeo had written, referring to Imran. “Originally, it was only one person but by nighttime, four different persons had made the same allegation and sent me posts.”
He later added: “I was also told that he had abused young interns or tried to hit on them inappropriately.”
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After that, Yeo announced he was being sued and called for more victims to come forward.
“Dear all, legal proceedings have been taken out against me by Imran Rahim,” he said. “This is a serious matter. … I would also like to appeal for any more alleged victims who have been abused to come forward to contact me. Otherwise, I will lose the case and have to suffer for speaking up.”
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