PUBLISHED: 11:00 EST, 25 January 2014 | UPDATED: 12:09 EST, 25 January 2014
A wealthy British banker who provoked a furious backlash in Singapore by suggesting public transport has a 'stench' and is only for 'poor people' has 'parted ways' with his employers.
Anton Casey, 39, no longer works for wealth management for Crossinvest, who attacked his comments for going against 'our core corporate and family values'.
The fund manager said that he received death threats after his comments were spread across the internet and has moved to Perth in Australia through fear of repercussions.
The scandal over the comments made by Mr Casey, who is married to a former Miss Singapore winner, erupted when he posted a picture on Facebook of his young son sitting on a train with the caption: 'Daddy, where is your car and who are all these poor people?'
A second photo showed his son sitting in his Porsche alongside the comment: 'Ahhhhhhh reunited with my baby. Normal service can resume, once I have washed the stench of public transport off me.'
He also branded a taxi driver a 'retard' for wearing mittens in hot weather and remarks: 'After 11 years residency, I am still trying to understand these people.'
Mr Casey was forced to apologise for his remarks in the face of a tide of online comments about his behaviour.
And yesterday his former employers confirmed that he would no longer work there 'with immediate effect'.
A statement posted on the Facebook page of Crossinvest's Asian office said: 'Crossinvest Asia is deeply concerned by the recent comments made by Mr. Anton Casey on social media which have caused great distress amongst Singaporeans.
'Those comments go against our core corporate and family values that are based on trust, mutual understanding and are respectful of diversity.
'Accordingly, Crossinvest Asia and Mr Casey have parted ways with immediate effect.'
Separately, Mr Casey announced his move to Australia in a statement to the Singaporean Straits Times newspaper.
He told the paper that he, his wife and child had gone to Perth 'due to threats made towards my family'.
He added: 'I also hope the people of Singapore, my adopted home, will forgive me over time.'
Mr Casey, a former London stockbroker, previously worked for HSBC and is married to Bernice Wong, 35, who won the Miss Singapore Universe contest in 2003. The couple married in 2008.
Details of his online gaffes were featured in the local media and on websites and internet forums.
Mr Casey was said to have gone into hiding and spoken to police because of the abuse he was receiving.
He later released a statement through a PR firm, saying: 'I would like to extend a sincere apology to the people of Singapore. I have the highest respect and regard for Singapore and the good people of Singapore; this is my home. I wish for nothing more than to be forgiven for my poor judgment and given a second chance to rebuild the trust people have had in me as a resident of this wonderful country.
'In the past 24 hours, due to a security breach of my personal Facebook page... my family and especially my five-year-old Singaporean son have suffered extreme emotional and verbal abuse online.'
Comments about Mr Casey on one Singapore media site included: 'Why oh why do you think you are so much better than others just because you happen to have cash... shame on you mate, shame!'
Another wrote: 'Can I sue this guy for insulting me?'
And a third said: 'You are lucky that you are rich, but don't look down on the poor because you have no ****ing idea what they have to go through.'
Mr Casey received further abuse over reports that he had sent a lawyer's letter to a Singapore news website for publishing his Facebook photos. One reader commented: 'Are you sure you have repented as stated in your apologies? You want to sue others to make the matter worse because you can afford an expensive lawyer.'
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