A widely circulated video recently caught the attention of netizens, showing a woman scolding and hitting a female student at a tuition centre along Toa Payoh Central.
The footage, lasting two minutes and 51 seconds, was brought to public attention through multiple sources, including Facebook user Miu Tan.
Scolded and hit with a pen
The video shows a young girl kneeling before a woman wearing a black short-sleeved top. The girl holds her right hand up to her face while the woman, seated behind a desk seemingly grading assignments, strikes her repeatedly with a pen. The woman verbally berates the girl in Vietnamese, accusing her of dishonesty. Subtitles in the video indicate that the girl denies the accusation and implores the woman to stop the physical assault.
During the confrontation, the woman’s anger escalates, leading her to strike the girl forcefully enough to cause the pen to fly out of her hand. A boy seated nearby witnesses the altercation and returns the pen to the woman. The woman continues to berate the girl, using profanity and subjecting her to further physical assault before the video concludes.
Following the video’s viral spread, numerous individuals left negative reviews tuition centre’s Facebook page. These reviews, primarily in Vietnamese, condemned the woman’s behavior and called for a boycott of the tuition centre. One review included a WhatsApp conversation that alleged another student had also experienced the same assault at the centre, providing accompanying photos of injuries sustained by a young boy.
Tuition centre owner responds
Speaking to Mothership about the incident, the owner of the tuition centre, Bui Thi Xuyen, confirmed that she was the woman seen in the video. Although she couldn’t recall the exact date, Bui mentioned that the incident occurred during the Covid-19 pandemic.
She clarified that the girl in the video is her goddaughter, whom she has known since the age of seven and is now 14 years old. Bui asserted that she had informed the girl’s parents of her intention to discipline her and had obtained their consent beforehand.
Bui explained that her actions stemmed from concerns about the girl’s alleged wayward behavior, which included smoking. She believed it was her duty to teach the girl a lesson to dissuade her from engaging in undesirable activities. Despite the incident, Bui asserted that she maintains a positive relationship with the girl and her parents.
Regarding the injuries sustained by the boy, Bui claimed that they resulted from an incident six months prior when he accidentally encountered a door at the tuition centre. She asserted that the boy’s parents were aware of the incident.
Police report lodged
In response to the video’s circulation, Bui lodged a police report on May 31, 2023. She expressed concern about the impact on her personal reputation and her business. The police report revealed that a mother, allegedly involved in circulating the video on Facebook, is currently engaged in a legal dispute with Bui.
The woman withdrew her child from the school without giving proper notice and demanded an S$800 refund of the school fees. Bui claimed that she has been subjected to harassment from this individual, which led to a court order prohibiting further contact.
Since the video’s release, Bui has filed an additional lawsuit against the individual for harassment and causing distress. She expressed significant stress due to the circulation of online rumors about herself and her business.