SINGAPORE: In the High Court on Monday, a case has come up where a Malaysian businesswoman, Madam Anne Wee, is suing her step-daughter for a portion of a S$28.8 million trust, claiming that it is part of matrimonial assets.
Madam Wee, who is in her 50s, is the niece of United Overseas Bank founder Wee Cho Yaw and the daughter of Sarawak tycoon Anuar Wee Hood Teck.
She is claiming that
her Singaporean ex-husband Ng Hock Seng, had fraudulently
misrepresented to her that he did not have money to support their family
during their 10-year marriage, when he had earned US$20 million in 1998
from a wafer fabrication contract for services in Sarawak, Malaysia.
Madam
Wee, the sole breadwinner of the family shortly after they moved from
Singapore to Kuching, maintained she was key in introducing the managing
director of the wafer fabrication plant to her ex-husband.
She
said she did not make a claim for maintenance during her divorce from Mr
Ng because he had told her he was broke and she believed him.
Mr
Ng, who died in 2004 from tongue cancer, bought an apartment in Ocean
Park in Singapore and another in Four Seasons in Jakarta in 1999.
However, he claimed in an affidavit in January 2000 that he was of
limited means and had difficulty giving the maintenance of RM3,750 to
his children and could only give RM1,200.
He also claimed he was financially supported by his family and friends.
Madam
Wee was cross-examined on Monday by her step-daughter's lawyer, Ms
Deborah Barker, who put to Madam Wee that she was not the one who
introduced the key contact of the wafer fabrication company to her
ex-husband.
Mr Ng had willed the money in the trusts to his
daughter from his first marriage, Ms Genevieve Ng Li-Ann, and his son
and daughter with Madam Wee. Ms Ng is the sole executrix of Mr Ng's
estate.
The trust is managed by BNP Paribas Trust Corporation, which is incorporated in Jersey, Channel Islands.
Madam
Wee is claiming costs against the trust which she alleged had
"unreasonably" incurred unnecessary costs "by failing to take a neutral
stand" in her claim against the late Mr Ng's estate.
Madam Wee is represented by Ms Indranee Rajah from Drew and Napier.
Ms
Ng and BNP Paribas Trust Corporation disagree that Mr Ng's estate is
part of matrimonial assets. Lawyers for the trust also argue that her
claim for costs is baseless.
-CNA/ac
eh. 有一点乱......................
another family blood feud over money....