SINGAPORE — The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) has sacked its chief executive Edmund Kwok for a “personal indiscretion” involving a male employee, with the matter now under police investigation.

The charity, which was just getting back on its feet after the T T Durai scandal a little over a decade ago, took pains to stress that the complaint against Mr Kwok had nothing to do with its finances or operations.

Mr Kwok, 58, joined the NKF in 2012 as chief operating officer and took the helm in November 2013. His sacking on Monday (Nov 15) marks the charity’s second leadership setback in 11 years, after former CEO Durai’s misuse of funds rocked the non-profit sector and sparked public outrage.

After news of the dismissal broke, donors TODAY spoke to expressed shock but maintained that they would continue supporting the NKF, given that the matter did not involve the charity’s finances. NKF employees were tight-lipped and told TODAY they were advised not to address media queries on the issue.

The NKF announced Mr Kwok’s sacking in a statement on Wednesday morning. But it was only at a press conference at 6pm that NKF chairman Koh Poh Tiong revealed that Mr Kwok’s “personal indiscretion” involved a male employee, while reiterating that the charity’s finances, operations and services were not 
affected.

He declined to give more details about the incident, but said it warranted a “serious (and) strong” response. It was not known when the incident happened but the male employee, who is still with NKF, made a complaint to his direct supervisor last Monday.

Mr Koh said he was told about the complaint — regarding the one-off incident — last Wednesday. 

When asked if the complaint was sexual in nature, Mr Koh said: “For the sake of the victim, I have told you as much as I can. I would prefer not to go into the case because it is a police case.”

Mr Kwok formally appeared before an inquiry and disciplinary committee led by board member Dr William Wan over the weekend and admitted the complaint was true. After taking advice from their lawyers, the committee recommended that Mr Kwok’s employment be terminated.

Mr Kwok’s “misconduct” was serious enough to warrant dismissal, said Dr Wan at the press conference, adding that it was “the only way” to ensure the NKF’s integrity and operations would not be compromised.

“We have a duty to all our stakeholders (and) our staff,” he said. “As a board, we acted in the interest of the organisation, because the organisation is not just about one man ... We want this organisation not to be affected by one man’s misconduct.”

He added: “Not only do we not want to cover anything up, we are also very concerned that it must be fair. There must be due process ... He had the chance to speak his mind ... and he admitted to the (matter).”

NKF board member Associate Professor Abdul Razakjr Omar, who was also at the press conference, added that they had to act in a “swift (and) decisive” manner out of respect for the charity’s stakeholders and to ensure transparency.

Responding to the sacking, a spokesperson from the Ministry of Health noted that the NKF board has put in place plans to ensure business continuity, and “we will work with NKF to ensure that services to patients are not disrupted”.

A three-member executive committee will assume Mr Kwok’s duties and responsibilities until mid-December. The team is headed by its chairman Mr Koh and supported by board members Mr Bennett Neo and Mr Johnny Heng.

Ms Eunice Tay, who served as NKF CEO from 2006 to 2013, will assume the reins thereafter until a new chief is found. Mr Koh said the board has a few candidates on its shortlist, but declined to reveal names.

The incident aside, Mr Koh acknowledged Mr Kwok’s contributions, referring to the latter as “one of the best CEOs I have worked with”.

“I feel very sad because for the past four-and-a-half years, NKF has been progressing, and this thing happened. I struggled but I told myself ... in life, things happen which you cannot control. But I can control my response,” he said. 

Under Mr Kwok’s leadership, the NKF expanded its dialysis capacity, such as by offering night dialysis and launching its first 24-hour dialysis centre in Jurong West.

Mr Kwok is married with two children, who are in their 20s. Before he joined NKF, he was vice-president of oncology at Parkway Healthcare, and also served at Tan Tock Seng Hospital and the Institute of Mental Health.