While at work I was able to witness human nature in its various forms as I had opportunities to interact with a variety of people who came to the Office to seek guidance on compliance to the labour laws.
One day an employer came over and insisted that he only wished to meet me and not any other officer. When I went out to meet him I could not recognise him. I told him that I couldn’t remember where we had met. He told me that he wouldn’t blame me since it had been three or four years past that I had visited him at his shop. I inquired on the purpose of his visit that morning. He invited me to have a drink at the office canteen downstairs where he could reveal his problems. I agreed and followed him downstairs to the canteen where at his signal the attendant brought two steaming cups of tea.
Over tea he apologised for drawing me into his domestic problems but insisted he had given it much thought and found no other alternative. Every so often he was looking over his shoulders to ensure there was no one eaves dropping.
Then he related the following tale:-
He lived in a shophouse a few doors away from the office and had a wife and two teenage daughters who lived with him. He said one of the Officers known to me often visited his home and was close to his family. The wife was a good cook and often invited the Officer to have lunch with her family. His wife found out that the youngest daughter had become pregnant and she related that the Officer was responsible for his daughter’s condition. They had approached the Officer to solve the problem but he was evasive and since then, had ceased coming over to the house. I told him this was a personal family problem and he should seek the services of family members to sort it out. He said he would rather kill his daughter than approach his family for assistance in this delicate situation. I reluctantly agreed to intervene and arranged for a meeting with the officer to discuss the matter. The Officer was junior in rank to me and had high regards for me, hence he agreed to meet up with me though he didn’t know what I wanted to discuss with him.
When he came over I asked him about his plans for the future and whether he had any plans for marriage. He said he was an orphan and had no family to worry about his future. I then broached him about the girl who was pregnant as a result of his irresponsible behaviour. At first he denied any knowledge of the girl’s condition. I told him if he was innocent as he claimed then he need not worry about the impending police inquiry when the girl makes a rape report with the Police soon. This information unsettled him and he inquired if it was true the girl intended to report him and what information she had of the culprits. I lied that there were no other culprits and the only person she intended to mention was himself. He protested that he was not the only one and knew of others who had taken advantage of the girl. I informed him that whatever information he had would be helpful to the Police and he should volunteer such information to them at the time of inquiry. I also advised him that he should be truthful and the information he volunteered may be used against him in the event of investigations against him. I also warned him that rape is a criminal offence and he would lose his job if he is found guilty and he should engage a good counsel if he is charged.
Two days later I was surprised to see the employer waiting at my office for me. He brought some fruits and a wedding card and invited me to his daughter’s wedding to the same Officer.
I believe that they lived happily ever after (as they say).
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