Anton Casey fired and flees Singapore in economy class over "poor people" comments

Anton Casey has left Singapore after 12 years in wake of "poor people" furore

A British businessman who mocked the poor has fled Singapore after receiving death threats and losing his job as a wealth fund manager.

Anton Casey caused an uproar in the country after posting a series of abusive photographs on Facebook where he called a local taxi driver a "retard" and referred to commuters as "the poor".

The former City stockbroker was last seen on Friday morning boarding a Singapore Airlines flight en route to Perth, Australia, with his wife, a former Miss Singapore and his five-year old son in economy class.

In an email to Singapore national daily The Straits Times, Casey said he hopes to make amends with the people of Singapore and return to the country one day, which he still considers his home.

He added: "I hope the people of Singapore will allow me to volunteer my time and resources to community projects in order to make amends for my mistakes.

"I also hope the people of Singapore, my adopted home, will forgive me over time… Singapore is our home, and we hope to return when we feel safe."

He described the incident as "the worst mistake of my life".

Casey's employer, Crossinvest Asia, has also announced it has "parted ways" with the banker with immediate effect after it launched an internal investigation over his inappropriate remarks.

Anton Casey has apologised after causing an uproar in Singapore where he mocked "poor people" and a taxi driver (FACEBOOK)

In a statement, the firm said:" The online comments made by Mr Casey do not represent the culture that we have built over many years. Accordingly, Crossinvest Asia and Mr Casey have parted ways with immediate effect."

Crossinvest acknowledged that Casey's comments had caused "great distress among Singaporeans", who blasted his behaviour on social media and called for his immediate deportation.

Porsche-driving Casey had spent 12 years in the country. His wife and son are Singapore citizens.

Last week, the financier issued a separate statement where he apologised for his "poor judgement" and described Singapore as a "wonderful country" after the photographs where he mocked locals went viral.

In one post, Casey shared a picture of his son sitting on a train on Facebook with the caption: "Daddy, where is your car & who are all these poor people?"

Another photo showed the five-year-old in his Porsche, with an equally offensive caption: "Ahhhh reunited with my baby. Normal service can resume, once I have washed the stench of public transport off me."

In a separate Facebook post, Casey insulted a local cabbie for wearing a towel on his lap and hand warmers while driving.

He added: "Today's cabbie retard award goes to...Mr Arm Warmers, stripy mittens & towel on the lap man....After all, it's only 37c outside."

He tried to change his Facebook name to Anson Casey but ultimately deactivated the account to stop the abuse.