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SMRT Trains COO Alvin Kek demoted, loses bonus after second drink-driving conviction

SINGAPORE — Following a second drink-driving conviction last month, SMRT Trains' chief operations officer Alvin Kek Yoke Boon has been demoted with effect from Monday (July 16), and his annual bonus for the current financial year will be forfeited.

SMRT Trains' chief operations officer Alvin Kek Yoke Boon has been demoted with effect from Monday (July 16), and his annual bonus for the current financial year will be forfeited.

SMRT Trains' chief operations officer Alvin Kek Yoke Boon has been demoted with effect from Monday (July 16), and his annual bonus for the current financial year will be forfeited.

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SINGAPORE — Following a second drink-driving conviction last month, SMRT Trains' chief operations officer Alvin Kek Yoke Boon has been demoted with effect from Monday (July 16), and his annual bonus for the current financial year will be forfeited.

On June 25, Kek was sentenced to two weeks' jail, fined S$4,000, and banned from driving for three years after his latest offence of drink-driving. He was first convicted of drink-driving on March 11, 2004, and was then fined S$2,800 and disqualified from driving for two years.

An SMRT internal email — which was seen by TODAY — informed staff that from Monday, Kek would be “redesignated” as senior vice-president of rail operations, as part of the disciplinary action meted out against him.

It noted that Kek had apologised to the management and staff of SMRT for his “lapse in judgement” at a town hall held on April 23. He had also penned a letter of apology to express his remorse and took full responsibility for his personal misconduct.

The email said that Kek is known to many in the company as a “highly committed, hardworking and strong leader”, and the company acknowledges his “sincere apologies”.

However, it takes a serious view of employees’ conduct and actions which “adversely affect SMRT’s reputation and which are against its corporate values and code of conduct”.

“This is regardless of whether such conduct and actions occur outside the workplace or otherwise. In particular, management and our leaders are expected to and must always set and lead by example,” said the email.

It reminded staff to comply with all laws and regulations, and not engage in any activity which could affect the company’s interests or reputation.

Responding to TODAY’s queries, SMRT vice-president for corporate communications Margaret Teo said: “Notwithstanding that this is a personal misjudgement with no safety impact to operations, Alvin has been severely disciplined and demoted by job grade with a corresponding pay cut.”

She added: “His entire annual bonus will also be forfeited. He has been counselled and warned that he will be dismissed if there is any further misconduct.”

Last month, the court heard that he was caught drink-driving when he ventured into Woodlands Checkpoint at about 3am on April 21.

He had earlier drunk four mugs of Tiger beer over three hours while with his colleagues at Temasek Club at 131 Rifle Range Road.

According to court documents, Kek consumed alcohol as he "needed to destress" after the recent death of his father.

He had intended to drive towards the direction of Woodlands after parting with his colleagues that night, but instead entered the Woodlands Checkpoint.

An Immigration and Checkpoints Authority officer who was attending to Kek's request to turn back to Singapore then suspected that he had consumed alcohol, and instructed him to alight from his car.

Kek failed a breathalyser test at the checkpoint, and further tests at the Jurong Police Divisional Headquarters showed that he had 65mg of alcohol in 100ml of his breath – above the legal limit of 35mg.

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