Sci-tech firm probed over fake tutor

THE Jinshan market watchdog is investigating a science and technology firm after a tutor was accused of having a fake ID and using inappropriate language when teaching a child.

A resident Zhang complained to Shanghai Radio that a tutor said to be a postgraduate at Shanghai International Studies University did not teach anything but “horrifying” things to his 12-year-old daughter.

Zhang said he found Chen, the teacher, on a website called “No. 1 Tutor” which said he was a postgraduate at the university. Zhang hired him and Chen visited Zhang’s home once a week for six months.

However, Zhang’s daughter’s academic performance deteriorated and he was shocked when he watched a surveillance camera, claiming Chen said things like “the grandmother was hit by the car” during lessons.

In addition, when the girl said her father was too strict, Chen said: “You can strangle your father to death with his leather belt,” the footage put online by the parents showed.

In addition, he frequently talked about menstruation with the girl, the footage showed.

When he tried to contact Chen, Zhang found he was blocked on WeChat, and Chen’s phone number was disconnected.

Chen is not a student of the university, the university confirmed.

Shanghai Aibi Internet Science and Technology Co, which operates “No. 1 Tutor,” is registered in Jinshan District.

The company has been included in an abnormal operation list since April after its legal representative could not be contacted, Jinshan District Administration for Market Regulation said.

Further investigation will be launched over whether it violated China’s advertisement law, it said.

The case will also be handed over to the Jinshan District Education Bureau to check whether the company operated beyond scope, the administration said.