Biomedical scientist Professor Chen Xiaoyuan denies allegations of sexual harassment and says he will appeal against the termination of his tenure by the National University of Singapore (NUS) over an alleged breach of staff conduct policies.
The termination, confirmed to the South China Morning Post by NUS on Wednesday, followed an internal investigation into claims by a female PhD candidate who accused Chen of repeated verbal and physical misconduct since early this year.
Chen broke his silence the following day, along with a series of posts by a group identifying itself as “Chen Xiaoyuan Team” on Chinese social media.
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While Chen denied writing the posts, he confirmed his intention to appeal and explore legal options.
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“I am appealing the termination of my tenure,” Chen said on Thursday. “I deny the complainant’s allegations and I am unable to comment further because I intend to pursue the appeals process and my legal remedies.”
Allegations about Chen’s behaviour circulated on social media before he became the subject of an investigation by NUS that started midyear and included hearings. The university terminated his tenured professorship following the inquiry.
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On Thursday, accounts affiliated with the so-called Chen Xiaoyuan Team rejected the sexual harassment allegations on Chinese social media and made claims about the alleged victim. The team of unnamed commenters announced plans to take legal action against her.