Upskirt offender stripped of medal
By Rachel Chang
Danny Soo Ee Hock, 35, has been stripped of a Public Service Medal, awarded to him earlier this year for 15 years of grassroots work. His conviction means he has also been removed as a member of PAP and Young PAP. -- ST FILE PHOTO
A GRASSROOTS leader convicted of surreptitiously taking 'upskirt' images of unsuspecting women is being stripped of a National Day medal awarded to him earlier this year for 15 years of grassroots work.
A spokesman for the People's Association (PA) told The Straits Times yesterday: 'The PA has taken steps to revoke the Public Service Medal awarded to Danny Soo.'
Danny Soo Ee Hock, a 35-year-old sales manager, has also been removed from his posts as chairman of the Punggol Park Community Club Management Committee, and in the Punggol South Citizens Consultative Committee.
This is because it is stipulated in the PA Constitution that no convicted person can be appointed a grassroots leader.
Soo confirmed to The Straits Times yesterday that he had relinquished all his posts in grassroots organisations.
His conviction on Tuesday also led automatically to his removal as a member of the People's Action Party (PAP) and its youth wing, Young PAP.
Soo, a father of one, was sentenced to nine months' jail after pleading guilty to 201 charges of intruding on the privacy of women. He is appealing against the sentence.
He had used a camera pen to film the women as they stood on escalators in front of him. Over 500 upskirt videos were found on his laptop, said a forensic examination report.
He was arrested in July last year but The Straits Times understands that he had continued his grassroots work, with other Punggol South grassroots leaders and MP Teo Ser Luck unaware of the arrest.
He stopped appearing regularly at grassroots events only a few months ago, grassroots leaders said.
Before his fall from grace, Soo was a prominent grassroots leader and one of PA's brightest stars.
In 2007, at age 32, he became the youngest chairperson of a community club management committee and was also featured in news reports as an example of the new blood renewing grassroots ranks.
Grassroots leaders interviewed said that they were disappointed and taken aback by the revelation that Soo has been engaging in criminal acts since November 2008.
'We were all very shocked,' said Punggol Park Youth Executive Committee chairman Max Yeow.
'He was a very knowledgeable grassroots leader with strong leadership qualities' he added.
Mr Teo, who is also the Young PAP chairman, said that both he and his grassroots team found out about Soo's arrest only after news reports were published two weeks ago.
'Our work carries on,' he said. 'I hope grassroots leaders are not demoralised by this incident, but will carry on serving the community.'
Punggol South grassroots leaders are currently looking for a new chairman for their community club management committee.
By Rachel Chang
Danny Soo Ee Hock, 35, has been stripped of a Public Service Medal, awarded to him earlier this year for 15 years of grassroots work. His conviction means he has also been removed as a member of PAP and Young PAP. -- ST FILE PHOTO
A GRASSROOTS leader convicted of surreptitiously taking 'upskirt' images of unsuspecting women is being stripped of a National Day medal awarded to him earlier this year for 15 years of grassroots work.
A spokesman for the People's Association (PA) told The Straits Times yesterday: 'The PA has taken steps to revoke the Public Service Medal awarded to Danny Soo.'
Danny Soo Ee Hock, a 35-year-old sales manager, has also been removed from his posts as chairman of the Punggol Park Community Club Management Committee, and in the Punggol South Citizens Consultative Committee.
This is because it is stipulated in the PA Constitution that no convicted person can be appointed a grassroots leader.
Soo confirmed to The Straits Times yesterday that he had relinquished all his posts in grassroots organisations.
His conviction on Tuesday also led automatically to his removal as a member of the People's Action Party (PAP) and its youth wing, Young PAP.
Soo, a father of one, was sentenced to nine months' jail after pleading guilty to 201 charges of intruding on the privacy of women. He is appealing against the sentence.
He had used a camera pen to film the women as they stood on escalators in front of him. Over 500 upskirt videos were found on his laptop, said a forensic examination report.
He was arrested in July last year but The Straits Times understands that he had continued his grassroots work, with other Punggol South grassroots leaders and MP Teo Ser Luck unaware of the arrest.
He stopped appearing regularly at grassroots events only a few months ago, grassroots leaders said.
Before his fall from grace, Soo was a prominent grassroots leader and one of PA's brightest stars.
In 2007, at age 32, he became the youngest chairperson of a community club management committee and was also featured in news reports as an example of the new blood renewing grassroots ranks.
Grassroots leaders interviewed said that they were disappointed and taken aback by the revelation that Soo has been engaging in criminal acts since November 2008.
'We were all very shocked,' said Punggol Park Youth Executive Committee chairman Max Yeow.
'He was a very knowledgeable grassroots leader with strong leadership qualities' he added.
Mr Teo, who is also the Young PAP chairman, said that both he and his grassroots team found out about Soo's arrest only after news reports were published two weeks ago.
'Our work carries on,' he said. 'I hope grassroots leaders are not demoralised by this incident, but will carry on serving the community.'
Punggol South grassroots leaders are currently looking for a new chairman for their community club management committee.
