More details surrounding the arrest of SMRT Chief Operations Officer for rail have been emerging. The senior executive, 50-year-old Alvin Kek, was arrested at Woodlands Checkpoint on Saturday morning for drink driving.
According to the Chinese daily, Kek was with a female passenger from China when he was arrested. Both Kek and the female passenger, who is believed to be in her 30s, did not bring their passports with them as they allegedly did not have the intention to drive into Malaysia.
The Chinese daily reported that Kek allegedly believed he was driving home, only to find himself at Woodlands checkpoint.
Kek is presently out on bail and deleted his social media accounts one day after his arrest. Reporters even visited the home of Kek and saw two boys and a woman in her 40s, who is believed to be Kek’s wife, entering Kek’s home.
One of the group’s top executives, Kek was just promoted to chief operations officer for rail from his former post as senior vice-president for rail operations two months ago, on 1 Feb 2018.
Kek, who has been working for SMRT since 2013, presently oversees rail operations along the North-South and East-West Lines, the Circle Line and the Bukit Panjang LRT network. Prior to his employment with SMRT, he was a colonel and a chief engineering officer with the Singapore Armed Forces, where he spent 14 years.
Shortly before his arrest, Kek had delivered a talk on how accountability and teamwork can help ensure safety, at an SMRT event.
When news of Kek’s arrest broke, SMRT’s vice-president for corporate communications Margaret Teo told reporters: “This matter is currently under police investigation. It is not appropriate for the company to comment as it concerns a personal matter. We request that the privacy of our staff, especially under the circumstances of his recent bereavement, be respected.”
It is believed that Kek’s father passed away recently.
https://theindependent.sg.sg/chief-operations-officer-of-smrt-trains-arrested-for-drink-driving-at-woodlands-checkpoint/