Mediacorp to part with actor Shane Pow after his drink-driving charge, says it was kept in dark

Though Shane Pow is now parting ways with Mediacorp, he is required to complete outstanding work until May 4. PHOTO: SHANE POW/INSTAGRAM

SINGAPORE - Broadcaster Mediacorp is terminating its contract with actor Shane Pow, 29, who was charged last Thursday (April 22) with drink driving.

In a statement released on Monday, Mediacorp said Pow had kept the company in the dark: "Mediacorp would like to clarify that we were not aware of the drink-driving charge involving Shane Pow prior to it being reported in the media on April 22."

It added: "We do not condone any behaviour that runs afoul of the law. We constantly remind our artistes that their fans and members of the public look to them as role models, and they are expected to behave as such."

The Straits Times reported last week that Pow was stopped at around 11.20pm on Sept 17 last year while allegedly driving a van along Java Road towards Nicoll Highway with at least 49 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath. This exceeds the limit of 35mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath.

Pow was previously convicted of drink driving in 2014.

Said Mediacorp: "Shane did not inform the artiste management team about this matter that took place in September 2020. He was also recently found to have breached Covid-19 safe management measures in an incident that took place in October 2020. He was fined for this offence and internal disciplinary action was also taken.

"Taking into account all the above issues, Mediacorp has decided to part ways with Shane."

Pow was one of 13 people who attended Mediacorp artiste Jeffrey Xu's birthday party on Oct 2 last year. The party was a breach of Covid-19 restrictions, which at the time required group gatherings to be kept to groups of five or less.

Actor Terence Cao, who hosted the party at his residence, and a male guest named Lance Lim Chee Keong were charged under the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) Act in March. Members of the group landed in trouble after they posted pictures of the celebration on social media.

Pow was also in the news in 2019 - he was hospitalised after being assaulted at Marquee Singapore. Mediacorp said then that he had accidentally spilled a drink on another patron's shoes and was attacked despite his apologies.

Though he is now parting ways with Mediacorp, Pow, who is under Mediacorp's talent management arm The Celebrity Agency, is required to complete outstanding work until May 4.

He also took part in filming two upcoming drama series Soul Old Yet So Young and The Heartland Hero, which are scheduled to air in June and July respectively. These will air as planned as filming and production with Pow has been largely completed.

Pow was talent-spotted at the Singapore Manhunt finals in 2011 and has since acted in series such as Mister Flower (2020) and C.L.I.F. 5 (2019).

He received the Top 10 Most Popular Male Artiste award in 2015.

Besides Pow, other local artistes have had their fair share of road trouble, most famously Christopher Lee, who was involved in a hit-and-run incident in 2006. Despite the controversy, he still managed a Top 10 Most Popular Male Artiste win that year. He was subsequently given a four-week jail term in 2007, on top of being fined and banned from driving for three years.

Actress Rui En, too, was once fined $700 for careless driving after knocking down a stationary motorcycle with her car in 2016.

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