Inspirational Facade

Just last week, before school closed, the teachers were shown a video on Dr William Tan, a 'prominent paraplegic athlete', 'Singapore's wheelchair marathon champion' (as quoted from various internet sources that cover him for his exploits despite being paralysed waist down since 2 years old as a result of polio).

The video showed him as an inspiring, perservering, determined persona who focuses on what he can do, instead of what he can't do. And it suggested that that was the essence and reason for his success in life despite his handicap.

However, this week, the news has been about him cheating a huge sum of money from a certain Dr Chee.

I first read it on yahoo! and didn't give it much thought at first as it didn't mention that it was THE Dr William Tan who won the wheelchair marathon champion, or perhaps it did but I overlooked it.

I just dismissed it as another white-collar crime and cheating doctor.

As I read the Chinese evening newspaper just now, I realised that it was the William Tan I watched on video last week. An English version of the article, although hardly a word-for-word one, can be found here.

The article in particular was about Dr Tan arguing for his case - that he was in a romantic relationship with Dr Chee, who gave him $400k as 'love gift'. To prove that the relationship was indeed a romantic one, he even told the reporter that he once made love with Dr Chee in her bedroom and her moaning was so loud her 10-year-old daughter came knocking on the door to find out what had happened. As a result, they had to counsel the daughter after that!

I thought it disgusting, and despicable, that a man stoop so low to 'prove' his relationship with a woman over a sum of money he took from her. How will this article reflect on Dr Chee or affect how her family members or relatives or friends look at her?

I can't help but wonder if men by the name of 'William' think nothing of taking money from women, supposedly the 'weaker' sex.

Dr Chee's lawyer listed a few points that he has observed so far:

1) Dr Tan has never written the word 'love' in his emails to Dr Chee. It's only when he needed money from her that he would write a long email to her.

2) He has never forked out a single cent to support Dr Chee and her daughter though he claims to be a father figure to the 10-year-old.

3) He did not report his annual income of $120k when filing income tax which indicates dishonesty or a lack of integrity.

4) He is sly and crafty.
He would compliment Dr Chee before he loaned money from her, and asked her not to let her daughters know he borrowed money from her.

5) He is conniving and scheming.
He helped her strategise to fight for her late husband's inheritance.

6) He puts on a facade.
He had urged Dr Chee to nominate him for several prestigious awards, including the National Day Award and asked her to write glowing testimonials for himself.

From the reports and articles I read, I do think that a romantic relationship between the two is highly possible. However, I don't think it's ever right to take money from a woman, especially when she is not your mother. Even if she is your mother, you are obligated to return the money to her. No one owes you a living. Everybody should earn his own keep, especially a man. Even if you are not able to earn your own keep due to some handicap, you ought not accept such a large amount of money from a woman. I have seen handicapped buskers selling their music or their tissue papers. What makes you so special that you need not work for that kinda money?

And it's definitely despicable to expose your romantic relationship because you do not want to return the money. It's quite clear to me that he is reluctant to admit the romantic relationship while being in it since he had not expressed any form of romantic affection to her apart from having sex with her. However, now he makes known the relationship to avoid repaying her the money he took from her.

As far as I am concerned, this man's name, reputation and integrity have gone to the dogs.

Which honourable man would take money from the woman he loves? Name me a great man who lives off a woman.