An employer who had caused public outrage last May after he was shown allegedly slapping his worker in an online video, was charged in court on Wednesday.

Lee Yew Nam, 43, the boss of IT software company Encore eServices, is accused of five counts of causing hurt to his employee Calvin Chan Meng Hock, 30, and one charge of abusing him. The video of the abuse, which was uploaded on YouTube and posted on popular forum HardwareZone, had made waves on mainstream and online media platforms last May.

Lee is accused of slapping Mr Chan at his office in Jurong Town Hall Road sometime between July 2010 and January 2011.

Then in January last year, Lee allegedly slapped Mr Chan on his face. A month later, he allegedly punched Mr Chan a few times and pushed him, causing him to lose his balance and fall off his chair and onto the floor.

Lee is also accused of hurting Mr Chan on another occasion on May 14 last year, when he allegedly grabbed and pushed Mr Chan's chin. The next day, he is said to have punched Mr Chan on the head and slapped his face three times.

The last charge accuses him of using abusive words and causing distress to Mr Chan. The case was adjourned to March 26.

Mr Chan, who is no longer with the company, had worked as an intern for six months before he became a full-time staff for 21/2 years. The maximum penalty for causing hurt is two years' jail and a $5,000 fine on each charge.