Teacher who allegedly took upskirt video of female commuter on train has “habit” of “leaving his handphone on the surface of his bag”, says ex-colleague

The man on the train caught on camera what appears to be an upskirt video of a female commuter has a “habit” of “leaving his handphone on the surface of his bag”, said an ex-teaching colleague.

In an email to Alvinology.com, the ex-colleague who prefers to be known as Ms Naidu said the man is a “very close friend” of hers and they were “ex-MOE colleagues”.

“I would like to speak out in hopes of justice for my Friend who’s being a victim of this accusation at the moment that is circulating online,” she added.

Alvinology.com understands that the man is David James Chua and he is 30 years old.

A Facebook video posted on Saturday (15 July) showed the man – dressed in a pink T-shirt and black shorts – using his mobile phone and then placing the phone, with the camera facing up, on top of his bag which could be seen left unzipped.

In the same video, he could be seen placing his bag – with his mobile phone still on top of his bag with the camera facing up – close to the legs of a woman standing behind him.

This happened in the train that was travelling between MacPherson and Paya Lebar stations on the Circle Line.

On Monday (17 July), Xinmin Primary School vice-principal Clement Lee confirmed that the man in the video is one of its teachers.

Mr Lee also added that the man is a “beginning teacher” who was posted to the school on 13 June 2016.

The teacher is currently placed on leave, he said.

A check on Xinmin Primary School’s website showed that one of its Physical Education (PE) teachers fits the profile of the man.

Ms Naidu, who knows Chua for five years, said he has a “habit” of “leaving his handphone on the surface of his bag at our home or when we are walking together in places where there are absolutely no people around.”

“It’s a “habit” not a perverted purposeful act like what the Internet and viral video claims of him,” she said.

She added that she has photos showing Chua “carrying the same bag and putting his stuff just on the surface of his bag”.

Ms Naidu also questioned the intention of the person who took the video.

“And if this was indeed an upskirt video by a pervert kind of situation, I don’t see how the person videoing my Friend could calmly sit down and continue to video without having the urge to alert anyone then and then,” she said.

The clip, which is slightly over two minutes long, showed the female commuter moving towards the center of the cabin to stand behind Chua.

The alleged upskirt incident took place in the last 10 seconds in the video.

On Chua, Ms Naidu said: “This person has a gem of a heart and will never commit anything like this. He deserves justice and the Internet has to stop spreading fake news just to get attention while ruining an innocent person’s life.”

“I’m ready to battle this out to prove his innocence as a Friend and a Singapore Citizen for the justice of anyone for that matter in being falsely defamed and having their entire life ruined overnight by this social media sites. This is cyber bullying when you read the contents and information fellow netizens are putting out there of this innocent party when even in the video it shows no evidence of having an intention to film upskirt,” she said.

Speaking to Alvinology.com, Ms Naidu said: “There is no glimpse in his characteristics to suggest that he is capable of doing such an act. I know that he is not guilty.”

Police confirmed that a report has been lodged and that investigations are ongoing. Chua has also been prominently featured and covered in various Singapore-based traditional and online publications.

Top image is a screengrab taken from the alleged upskirt video.

Chitra Kumar

Newsroom-trained, multi-platform content producer. Loves the speed of digital culture and the timelessness of long-form. When I'm not stringing together words to tell a story, I'm busy researching my next travel destination.

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  • "has a “habit” of “leaving his hand phone on the surface of his bag at our home or when we are walking together in places where there are absolutely no people around.” ... well in this case, there are a lot of people around.. in addition, I'm sure he has a habit of putting his mobile phone at the edge of his bag and not in the centre where it is less likely to drop, or a habit to position his phone at the back where he can't see instead of the front.. and a habit of placing it under a lady's skirt..

    "photos showing Chua “carrying the same bag and putting his stuff just on the surface of his bag”.. stuff doesn't take videos of upskirts, mobile phone does.

    "And if this was indeed an upskirt video by a pervert kind of situation, I don’t see how the person videoing my Friend could calmly sit down and continue to video without having the urge to alert anyone then and then"... well how about those that video taped people assaulting toddlers, or people bullying others, etc.? How about the recent guy who molested a girl who was with her friend? Are you so naive that you don't know there are people who would not voiced out but post the acts on social media?

    "There is no glimpse in his characteristics to suggest that he is capable of doing such an act. I know that he is not guilty." - Well all the families and friends of many murderers, rapists, drug traffickers, etc. said the same thing.

    I don't think our police are stupid. If there's no case, the police would have only requested or call him up to take his statement and not arrest him.

    • Yes, the police is not stupid enough to charge a person based on this kind of "analysis". The police is merely investigating because a police report is lodged. The outcome can go either way based on evidence at hand. But it seems that you think you are more qualified than the police to judge.

    • Dear Mr Roger Lim,
      Dont mind, since you are so capable to retort Ms Naidu comments, would you mind kindly explain, in your smartest analysis, why the video was filmed way before the alleged act was committed?

  • He isn't arrested dude. And if you're such a wise men who knows it all without even knowing the person, then why don't you be a psychic? Perhaps you already are for sounding so smart ?

  • Miss Naidu, you say: You have "photos showing Chua “carrying the same bag and putting his stuff just on the surface of his bag”. As you have chosen to write to Alvinology, and they have given you the venue, please therefore share the said photos.

    • Do you think he will still keep it with him?

      Come on, his church elder also a pervert. Another one is fined for animals cruelty.

      The pastor said he won't say sorry for wrong doing because of the rank of pastor.

      If he's a good follower of his church, then.... This most probably is up skirt videoing.

  • Guilty or not just check his phone. If there's the clip - case closed.

    Anyway I am puzzled. This person who shot this clip is a Psychic? He can predict the future and starts filming the guy in advance before the act? SG police should enlist him for crime prevention.

  • Tell him to be brave about it. His church elder has already admitted his wrong doing and been removed from NKF. Since David has gone the wrong path, just admit it, come clean, and start afresh. At this age he can always find another job, not teaching though. But who's to blame.

  • Let's CSI abit about the video and the video-er. It was taken for 2 mins before last few seconds the "so called" crime occurred. Suppose the video-er saw earlier episodes with same or diff girls and decided to film for action? As the hp camera position was tilt upwards as in the video, then the possibility of videoing has increased. If the screen was upwards then chances are low as others can see what he's doing. 1 train ride from jurong to bugis have 45mins of video opportunity. if MRT breaks down, his storage also not enuff.

    The video-er should actually told the victim and walked towards SMRT for assistance. If its true, he might get a kiss from the lady. If not true, at least it clarifies on the spot. Posting it on-line can have defamatory consequences. (assuming video-er is a male subject)

    What can the police find if he factory-reset / secure-delete his phone? (Our spf is not Miami CSI) Most chaps nowadays have secret tumblrs account. Most likely the snake will escape as the grass has been hit. Its unlikely that the police can seized all his electronics for investigations as evidence shown is purely circumstantial.

    We humans like to speculate be it stocks, gold, property and gossips. So my prediction will be off the hook. What about you guys?

  • oh, 1 advice for roger. Don't try to be master and educate people online. Its doesn't work this way. The public doesn't like your hardcore style, they only like hardcore truth. If i am the PE teacher and police closed my file, I will sue the video-er for compensation.

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