It is now reported that the ‘Internet star’ and alleged scolder of nurses Han Feizi apparently moonlights as a hostess

When the identity and then images of Han Feizi (韩菲紫) were revealed shortly after the SGH fiasco more than two weeks ago, no heterosexual male in Singapore believed that she held a regular nine-to-five job. Now, following investigations into irregularities with her work permit, their suspicions were confirmed. Just a day before the Chinese national was scheduled to appear in court to answer to the earlier six charges handed to her, it was exposed that she had worked as a part-time hostess at “various (unidentified) locations”. The Chinese press described her profession as “夜场陪酒 (yechang peijiu)”—nightclub escort/drinking companion. According to media reports, she had written on her work permit application that she was taking the job of a “clerk” with a Singapore-registered firm KDL Elements. The Chinese press reported that she claimed she was seeking employment as a “书记 (shuji)” or secretary. Some netizens in China, in an attempt to cast a compatriot in better light, had previously stated that she was on our island to “旅游 (luyou)”, or for travel. That Ms Han’s work was not tourism-related or clerical in nature surprised practically no one, especially among our vast, now-smiling male population.

KDL Elements Pte Ltd, with a business address in the basement level of People’s Park Centre, was registered in October last year. Their “principal activity” is classified in business directories as “night clubs, discotheques, dance clubs, and karaoke lounges”. At the registered address, one Elements KTV is understood to once operate there. In one LinkedIn post three weeks ago, the company was seeking a “performing artiste assistant manager”. Under the job requirements for that post, the applicant must have “excellent verbal and written communication skills, verbal and written communication skills in English, Chinese and Vietnamese would be an advantage.” It is presently “no longer accepting applications”. Presumably, the position was filled. It is unlikely that Ms Han was here to take up that managerial role, even when she has demonstrated to have “excellent verbal skills” in Mandarin. In fact, it is unknown if Ms Han has worked in the KDL Elements office at all or if she went straight to their sundown establishments when she arrived here in late July or early August from an up-to-now unknown Chinese town or village. According to The New Paper, she “had no intention of working for KDL Elements”. What her intentions really were has not been made clear, which, unsurprisingly, was opened to crazy assumptions.

That Ms Han’s work was not tourism-related or clerical in nature surprised practically no one, especially among our vast male population

Earlier today, she was handed two additional charges under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act for lying on her work permit application and for freelancing as a night spot hostess without a valid work permit related to the nature of the job she was doing. The 29-year-old appeared before the judge through video-link; she was still not lawyered. She was described by the press to have looked “well rested”. She claimed through a court interpreter that she is “无亲无故 (wuqing wugu)”—she has no relatives or friends here, although in that self-damning video she shared on Douyin, she told the investigating officer that at the site of the accident, “所有的朋友都来关心我”—all my friends cared about me. She asked to be allowed to make a call to her hometown (she did not say where she is originally from) so that she could, according to CNA, settle her credit card bills, as well as to attend to her mortgage, which is due for payment. She added, “If I don’t make payment, then I may run into problems.” Ms Han was denied that request. The judge told her she could make a local call and relay the message to someone here who could help her make the required arrangements. As with her earlier charges, she told the court she intends to plead guilty to the latest two.

Her true occupation and the reason for her coming here, now laid bare, have led to considerable online discussions: Most “already knew” the nature of her job, and the reveal came as no astonishment. According to charge sheets seen by CNA, from 1 August to 11 October, Han Feizi’s main work was hostessing at several night spots. When we asked an SOTD reader, who had earlier speculated confidently that she was a “working girl”, how he knew what she did, he said, “just a feeling.” Another said that describing her with the euphemistic “hostess” does not say that she, “like so many other girls, is here to make money, fast. And nothing is faster than ‘doing the rounds’ of 夜店 (yedian, or nightclubs).” One more had an eye for details. He said, “on both occasions (first, the trouble with the security guard and then at SGH, with the nurses), her flare-ups happened in the wee hours of the morning. Why was she still up and was quarrelsome at those hours? And there is her residence. How was she able to afford to live there?” At the moment, answers to those questions cannot be determined with certainty. Her much awaited appearance in court tomorrow may reveal more.

Illustration: Just So