A late Singapore businessman’s daughter has lost a civil lawsuit against a 39-year-old woman who received more than S$1.7 million from him before his death.
According to Mothership, the High Court dismissed the claim after Justice Philip Jeyaretnam found that the money had been voluntarily gifted to the woman, Sun Beibei.
Sun was awarded S$182,500 in legal costs, plus 9 per cent GST, after the case was dismissed. She was also awarded agreed disbursements of S$10,931.91.
This works out to about S$210,000 in costs and disbursements.
Daughter Sued to Recover S$1.711 Million
The late businessman was Chew Yam Song Peter, who ran seafood wholesale business Evergreen Seafood.
He died in September 2024 at the age of 73.
His daughter, Chew Boon Fong Angela, who was the executor of his estate, sued Sun for breach of fiduciary duty and sought to recover S$1.711 million.
In simple terms, a fiduciary duty is a legal duty to act in another person’s interests, usually because of a relationship of trust and responsibility.
The disputed sum comprised S$1.625 million transferred through signed cheques and a cashier’s order, as well as S$86,000 in ATM withdrawals using Chew’s bank cards.
Chew’s daughter alleged that Sun had withdrawn and transferred the money without authorisation while Chew was seriously ill between June and September 2024.
Businessman Had Stage-Four Cancer
According to earlier court reporting by Lianhe Zaobao, Chew was diagnosed with stage-four colon cancer in December 2022.
By May 2024, the cancer had spread to his pancreas and lungs, and he was given less than six months to live.
The plaintiff’s case was that Chew had become very weak, had difficulty speaking and walking, and could not have personally made the withdrawals.
The family also pointed to a will made in August 2024, in which Chew left his bank savings to his wife and daughter.
They argued that this made it unlikely that he had intended to give the money to Sun.
The family also alleged that Sun deleted her message history with Chew after his funeral before returning his phone.
Woman Said They Were Long-Term Partners
Sun denied the allegations.
Her case was that she and Chew had been in a romantic relationship for about 10 years, and that their relationship was an “open secret” known to his family.
She said Chew voluntarily gave her the money so that she would have financial security and a home after his death.
Sun also said she had cared for Chew during his illness, and that he had instructed her to fill in the cheques.
On one occasion, she said, Chew asked her to guide his hand while he signed a cheque.
Two months after Chew died, Sun used some of the money to buy an apartment, which she later rented out.
Judge Found No Undue Influence
Justice Jeyaretnam found that the main question was whether Chew had gifted the money to Sun.
According to Mothership, the judge found that there was “no doubt” about Chew’s mental capacity.
He noted that Chew had made a will on 15 August 2024, in which he gave his shares in Evergreen Seafood to his daughter and also confirmed an earlier gift of a residential property to his wife.
The judge also found no evidence that Sun had exercised undue influence over Chew.
He accepted that Sun had been Chew’s devoted caregiver and had shouldered much of the caregiving burden, at times almost single-handedly.
The court also found that Sun’s account was supported by six other witnesses.
One witness, a friend of Chew, testified that Chew had been concerned that Sun was alone in Singapore, might lose her employment after his death, and would have no income or place to live.
A property agent also testified that Chew had spoken about supporting Sun’s purchase of a property, with a budget of S$1.4 million.
Court Found He Had Provided for His Wife and Daughter
The judge also noted that Chew had made separate and sufficient provision for his wife and daughter.
This supported the likelihood that he could have intended to give Sun money, given the care she had provided him.
With the case dismissed, Sun was awarded S$182,500 in legal costs, 9 per cent GST on that amount, and disbursements of S$10,931.91.
