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Straits Times
7 hours ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Granddaughter of Hin Leong founder O.K. Lim fails to keep 3 insurance policies from creditors' reach
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The three policies are part of a set of eight insurance policies with AIA that Mr Lim Chee Meng had taken out when Ms Lim was a minor. SINGAPORE – The daughter of bankrupt former Hin Leong Trading director Lim Chee Meng failed in a bid to shield three AIA Singapore insurance policies worth over half a million dollars from being part of Mr Lim's bankruptcy estate. Ms Michelle Lim Yan Yi, the granddaughter of Hin Leong founder Lim Oon Kuin sought a High Court declaration that the three policies, worth over $521,000, should be ring-fenced from creditors' reach because they were held on trust for her benefit by her father, who was declared bankrupt in December 2024. The three policies are part of a set of eight insurance policies with AIA that Mr Lim Chee Meng had taken out when Ms Lim was a minor, under which he was the policy owner and she was the named insured. But High Court Judicial Commissioner Mohamed Faizal found there was a lack of evidence of an intention on Mr Lim Chee Meng's part, prior to his bankruptcy, to create a trust over the three policies for the sole benefit of his daughter. He found that the documentary evidence relied on by Ms Lim were 'either self-interested representations' or 'mere assertions'. One document she relied on was an October 2021 letter from Mr Lim Chee Meng to ring-fence the eight policies from other assets that were subjected to a freezing order in a US$3.5 billion civil suit. Another document adduced was an AIA letter dated October 2021 signed by a purported personal wealth manager, who asserted that 'the eight policies belong to (Ms Lim), and are being held by Mr Lim Chee Meng on trust for (Ms Lim)'. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. 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But the judge found 'the letter was bare and bereft of details and merely asserted, without more, that the eight policies were held on trust.' Other documents Ms Lim relied on included an e-mail dated March 10, 2025, from Mr Lim Chee Meng to the trustees and part of his affidavit filed in 2024 for his bankruptcy proceedings, in which he asserted that he held the eight policies on trust for Ms Lim. But the judicial commissioner pointed out that most of the documents she relied on as evidence were written by or on behalf of her father after his bankruptcy proceedings started. 'By that time, it would have been apparent that Hin Leong's collapse could have extremely far-reaching financial consequences for all concerned, not least Mr Lim who was a director. 'It was at this point that Mr Lim started to insist that the eight policies were in fact not owned by him and should be deemed to be held on trust,' the judicial commissioner noted. 'The courts should be wary of such belated attempts by bankrupts to shield assets from creditors by retrospectively asserting the existence of trust arrangements without contemporaneous evidence,' he pointed out. Mr Lim Chee Meng, along with his father and sister Lim Huey Ching were declared bankrupt in December 2024 following a settlement of two lawsuits brought by Hin Leong's liquidators and HSBC against the Lim family. Their bankruptcy estates are being managed by trustees Leow Quek Shiong and Seah Roh Lin of BDO Singapore, who have taken the position that the three insurance policies vest in Mr Lim Chee Meng's bankruptcy estate. The trustees had asked Mr Lim Chee Meng and Ms Lim whether a third party would pay the bankruptcy estate the surrender value of the three policies, which was worth over $521,000 as at Jan 16, 2025. If no third party would pay for them, the trustees would then terminate the policies and use the proceeds to pay his creditors. But Mr Lim Chee Meng and his daughter did not agree to this arrangement. Ms Lim claimed that her father intended to hold these policies on trust for her until she turned 21 years old, after which he would transfer the policies to her name. But the trustees contend that while the policy documents do identify Ms Lim as the insured, they do not name her as a beneficiary. The trustees also pointed out that Mr Lim Chee Meng's actions were 'inconsistent with any intention to create a trust for Ms Lim since he did not take the necessary steps to vest the three policies in her name when she turned 21', despite having the opportunity to do so. The trustees noted that AIA had written to Mr Lim on June 13, 2024, to indicate that its records showed he wished to remain the policies' owner when Ms Lim turned 21, but they were writing to him just in case he wished to change the state of affairs. The judicial commissioner noted that Mr Lim Chee Meng 'chose to ignore the (AIA) letters altogether'. Further, he also did not file any affidavit to support his daughter's case. 'While I accept that, the absence of direct evidence from Mr Lim is not determinative, such absence necessarily raises obvious and legitimate questions about the credibility and completeness of (Ms Lim's) claim,' the judicial commissioner noted. .
Singapore Law Watch
2 days ago
- Singapore Law Watch
Over 5 years' jail for driver who caused teen's death during highway race, said she ‘deserved it'
Over 5 years' jail for driver who caused teen's death during highway race, said she 'deserved it' Source: Straits Times Article Date: 01 Jul 2025 Author: Nadine Chua His 'blocking and braking games' led to bike rider, teen riding pillion being flung off. A driver who played 'blocking and braking games' with a motorcycle and went at speeds of up to 160kmh on an expressway showed no remorse despite causing the death of an 18-year-old pillion rider on the motorcycle. When his friend said he was crazy to play with someone's life, the driver replied that the victim 'deserved it' as she had pushed his limits. Jarrett Tee Lee Kiat, 30, was sentenced to five years and eight months' jail on June 27 after he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Ms Leann Lim Jia Le. Ms Lim, an 18-year-old student, was the pillion rider on the motorcycle when Tee swerved into it, causing Ms Lim to be flung onto the road. The collision also left the motorcycle rider, Mr Kovan Tan, 27, injured with multiple abrasions and a right-hand laceration. Apart from his jail term, Tee was handed a 10-year driving ban for his offence. He was an NUS student at the time of the incident, as well as a part-time chef and social media influencer. On the night of Feb 23, 2024, Tee contacted a man identified in court documents as Mr Vincent Loh via Telegram and asked if he was interested to go 'grounding' with two girls. Deputy Public Prosecutor Paul Chia said 'grounding' was a slang term understood as the act of driving around aimlessly. Mr Loh agreed to Tee's suggestion, and the men and two 16-year-old girls met in Sembawang for supper before driving around separately in Tee's and Mr Loh's cars. Some time during the night, Ms Lim and her boyfriend, 16, met the group. At one point, one of the 16-year-old girls and Ms Lim's boyfriend ended up with Tee in his rented Mercedes-Benz car, while Mr Tan rode his motorcycle with Ms Lim riding pillion. The two vehicles travelled along the ECP to meet Mr Loh and the other 16-year-old girl at East Coast Park. On their way there, Tee and Mr Tan raced each other, with Tee's car going at speeds of up to 160kmh. Tee then sped up, overtook Mr Tan's motorcycle and began to play blocking and braking games, said the DPP. Tee then asked his passengers, 'Do you want to see motorcycle fly?'. Ms Lim's boyfriend pleaded against it. When Tee saw that the motorcycle was about to overtake him, he immediately swerved his car to block it. His car swiped the motorcycle, causing both Mr Tan and Ms Lim to be flung about 5m to 8m away. Before the police or the ambulance arrived, Tee called Mr Loh and said the motorcycle had collided with him. When Mr Loh asked how it happened, Tee said Mr Tan kept revving the motorcycle at him and that Ms Lim had pointed her middle finger at him, so he 'played with the motorcycle'. Following the collision, Ms Lim was found to have suffered significant brain injury and died in hospital. Tee was arrested at the scene and lied to the police that the motorcycle was 'tailgating (him) and was high-beaming (him)'. He was later released on bail. After his release from police custody, Tee met Mr Loh, who asked if he was afraid following the incident. Tee replied, 'Why scared', and said: 'Who ask her to piss me off? The accident (that) caused her death is what she deserved.' In his submissions, DPP Chia said the facts surrounding this case set out 'one of the worst examples of dangerous driving possible'. 'The way which the accused drove, which resulted in the collision and the death of Leann, was extremely dangerous. His level of culpability is on the extreme end of high,' the prosecutor added. In mitigation, defence lawyer Pang Khin Wee said his client was genuinely remorseful, adding: 'It is worth noting that Jarrett was but a mischievous, impressionable and sorely misguided young man at the time of the accident who did not know how to distinguish good influence from bad.' Mr Pang said his client was 'hard-mouthed and boorish', but despite talking 'macho' after the collision, he did not intend to hurt Mr Tan and Ms Lim. 'In truth, Jarrett was just a scared and remorseful man trying to avoid admitting to his friends that he had made a huge mistake. Jarrett's macho words were simply his way of masking and avoiding seeming weak to his friends, even though he knew he was in trouble,' said the lawyer. Those convicted of dangerous driving causing death can be jailed for between two and eight years, and can be disqualified from driving. Nadine Chua is a crime and court journalist at The Straits Times. Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction. Print
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Straits Times
Jail for driver who showed no remorse for causing death of teen in ECP race: 'What she deserved'
Jail for driver who showed no remorse for causing death of teen in ECP race: 'What she deserved' Nadine Chua The Straits Times June 30, 2025 A driver who played blocking and braking games with a motorcycle and went at speeds of up to 160kmh on the expressway showed no remorse despite causing the death of the 18-year-old pillion rider on the motorcycle. When his friend said he was crazy to play with someone's life, the driver replied that the victim "deserved it" as she pushed his limits. Jarrett Tee Lee Kiat, 30, was sentenced to five years and eight months' jail on June 27 after he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Ms Leann Lim Jia Le. Ms Lim, an 18-year-old student, was the pillion rider on the motorcycle when Tee swerved into it, causing Ms Lim to be flung onto the road. The collision also left the motorcycle rider, Mr Kovan Tan, 27, injured with multiple abrasions and a right-hand laceration. PHOTO: SHIN MIN DAILY NEWS Apart from his jail term, Tee was handed a 10-year driving ban for his offence. He was a student at the National University of Singapore at the time of the incident, as well as a part-time chef and social media influencer. On the night of Feb 23, 2024, Tee contacted a man identified in court documents as Vincent Loh via Telegram and asked if he was interested to go "grounding" with two girls. Deputy Public Prosecutor Paul Chia said "grounding" was a slang understood as the act of driving around aimlessly. Mr Loh agreed to Tee's suggestion, and the men and two 16-year-old girls met at Sembawang for supper before driving around separately in Tee's and Mr Loh's cars. Sometime during the night, Ms Lim and her boyfriend, 16, met up with the group. At one point, a 16-year-old girl and Ms Lim's boyfriend ended up with Tee in his rented Mercedes-Benz car, while Mr Tan rode his motorcycle with Ms Lim as pillion. The two vehicles travelled along the East Coast Parkway (ECP) to meet Mr Loh and another 16-year-old girl at East Coast Park. On their way there, Tee and Mr Tan raced one another with Tee's car going at speeds of up to 160kmh. Tee then sped up, overtook Mr Tan's motorcycle and began to play "blocking and braking games". Tee then told his passengers: "Do you want to see motorcycle fly?" to which Ms Lim's boyfriend pleaded with him not to. When Tee saw the motorcycle about to overtake him, he immediately swerved his car to block it. His car swiped the motorcycle, causing both Mr Tan and Ms Lim to be flung about 5m to 8m away. PHOTOS: SHIN MIN DAILY NEWS Before the police or ambulance arrived, Tee called Mr Loh and said the motorcycle had collided with him. When Mr Loh asked how it happened, Tee said Mr Tan kept revving the motorcycle at him and that Ms Lim had pointed her middle finger at him so he "played with the motorcycle". Following the collision, Ms Lim was found to have suffered significant brain injury and died in hospital. Tee was arrested at the scene and lied to the police that the motorcycle was "tailgating (him) and was high-beaming (him)". He was later released on bail. After his release from police custody, Tee met up with Mr Loh, who asked if he was afraid following the incident. Tee replied "why scared", and said: "Who ask her to pissed me off? The accident (that) caused her death is what she deserved." In his submissions, DPP Chia said the facts surrounding this case set out "one of the worst examples of dangerous driving possible". "The way which the accused drove which resulted in the collision and the death of Leann was extremely dangerous. His level of culpability is on the extreme end of high," the prosecutor added. Those convicted of dangerous driving causing death can be jailed for between two and eight years, and can be disqualified from driving. Click here to contribute a story or submit it to our WhatsApp Get more of Stomp's latest updates by following us on:
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Straits Times
Over 5 years' jail for driver who caused teen's death during highway race, said she ‘deserved it'
Apart from his jail term, Jarrett Tee was handed a 10-year driving ban for his offence. PHOTO: SHIN MIN DAILY NEWS Over 5 years' jail for driver who caused teen's death during highway race, said she 'deserved it' SINGAPORE - A driver who played blocking and braking games with a motorcycle and went at speeds of up to 160kmh on the expressway showed no remorse despite causing the death of the 18-year-old pillion rider on the motorcycle . When his friend said he was crazy to play with someone's life, the driver replied that the victim 'deserved it' as she pushed his limits. Jarrett Tee Lee Kiat, 30 , was sentenced to five years and eight months' jail on June 27 after he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Ms Leann Lim Jia Le. Ms Lim, an 18-year-old student, was the pillion rider on the motorcycle when Tee swerved into it, causing Ms Lim to be flung onto the road. The collision also left the motorcycle rider, Mr Kovan Tan, 27, injured with multiple abrasions and a right-hand laceration. Apart from his jail term, Tee was handed a 10-year driving ban for his offence. He was a student at the National University of Singapore at the time of the incident, as well as a part-time chef and social media influencer. On the night of Feb 23, 2024, Tee contacted a man identified in court documents as Vincent Loh via Telegram and asked if he was interested to go 'grounding' with two girls. Deputy Public Prosecutor Paul Chia said 'grounding' was a slang understood as the act of driving around aimlessly. Mr Loh agreed to Tee's suggestion, and the men and two 16-year-old girls met at Sembawang for supper before driving around separately in Tee's and Mr Loh's cars. Sometime during the night, Ms Lim and her boyfriend, 16, met up with the group. At one point, a 16-year-old girl and Ms Lim's boyfriend ended up with Tee in his rented Mercedes-Benz car , while Mr Tan rode his motorcycle with Ms Lim as pillion. The two vehicles travelled along the East Coast Parkway (ECP) to meet Mr Loh and another 16-year-old girl at East Coast Park. On their way there, Tee and Mr Tan raced one another with Tee's car going at speeds of up to 160kmh. Tee then sped up, overtook Mr Tan's motorcycle and began to play 'blocking and braking games'. Tee then told his passengers: 'Do you want to see motorcycle fly?', to which Ms Lim's boyfriend pleaded with him not to. When Tee saw the motorcycle about to overtake him, he immediately swerved his car to block it. His car swiped the motorcycle, causing both Mr Tan and Ms Lim to be flung about five to eight metres away. Before the police or ambulance arrived, Tee called Mr Loh and said the motorcycle had collided with him. When Mr Loh asked how it happened, Tee said Mr Tan kept revving the motorcycle at him and that Ms Lim had pointed her middle finger at him so he 'played with the motorcycle'. Following the collision, Ms Lim was found to have suffered significant brain injury and died in hospital. Tee was arrested at the scene and lied to the police that the motorcycle was 'tailgating (him) and was high-beaming (him)'. He was later released on bail. After his release from police custody, Tee met up with Mr Loh, who asked if he was afraid following the incident. Tee replied 'why scared', and said: 'Who ask her to pissed me off? The accident (that) caused her death is what she deserved.' In his submissions, DPP Chia said the facts surrounding this case set out 'one of the worst examples of dangerous driving possible' . 'The way which the accused drove which resulted in the collision and the death of Leann was extremely dangerous. His level of culpability is on the extreme end of high,' the prosecutor added. Those convicted of dangerous driving causing death can be jailed for between two and eight years, and can be disqualified from driving. Nadine Chua is a crime and court journalist at The Straits Times. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Independent Singapore
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Independent Singapore
Was the WP right to keep Pritam Singh and Sylvia Lim at Aljunied? Many believe so
- Advertisement - SINGAPORE: Since the Workers' Party announced its candidates for the May 3 polls on Nomination Day, armchair commentators have questioned the party's strategy of keeping its two highest-profile candidates at Aljunied GRC. Pritam Singh and Sylvia Lim, the party's secretary-general and chair, respectively, are aiming for a fourth term in Parliament representing Aljunied GRC, which is now pretty much established as an opposition stronghold. At a press conference to introduce the WP candidates on April 17, Mr Singh said the party would be contesting fewer than a third of the seats in Parliament this year, signalling that while the WP would naturally want more elected MPs, the party would proceed with more caution than risk. Prior to Nomination Day, speculation abounded as to where the WP would field candidates. Many believed that former MPs He Ting Ru, Jamus Lim, and Louis Chua would stay where they were, believing it would be necessary for them to serve a second term to solidify the party's foothold at Sengkang. - Advertisement - As for the Aljunied GRC MPs, Mr Singh, Ms Lim, WP vice chair Faisal Manap, and former Non-Constituency MP Gerald Giam, there was speculation they would go further afield to strengthen the WP's chances of winning more constituencies. On Nomination Day, it was revealed that Mr Manap would lead the team at Tampines GRC, but Mr Singh, Ms Lim, and Mr Giam would contest at Aljunied. There have been mixed reactions to this. Some argued that Ms Lim, in particular, could have helmed the WP slate either at East Coast GRC or Punggol GRC. It's possible, after all, that for the party chair, who just turned 60, this may be the last time she contests an election. Others have said that Mr Singh, who is widely respected despite being convicted earlier this year of lying to a Parliamentary committee, could have lent his star power to newer candidates elsewhere. Some even dreamed of a Singh-Singh team-up, with the party chief heading a slate that included new candidate Senior Counsel Harpreet Singh, who is leading the charge for the WP at Punggol GRC. - Advertisement - There were commenters who even said that Ms Lim and Mr Singh could have passed the Aljunied baton to Mr Giam, a popular figure who has established himself as a capable parliamentarian in his own right. However, many Singaporeans online believe that the caution exercised by the WP this time was a wise move. 'I believe their main focus for this election is to consolidate their seats (retaining existing seats plus perhaps 1/2 more constituencies), and to show that the quality of WP candidates is as good as the PAP's… Perhaps they have deduced that the time is not ripe yet for a more aggressive approach,' wrote one. 'Their goal, as mentioned by them, is to deny the PAP a 2/3 majority. They can't be too aggressive. As long as they hold this, plus a few new others like Tampines GRC (with Changkat), they will achieve their goal, which is a win for both the WP and Singaporeans,' agreed another. - Advertisement - Some pointed out that the WP is already fielding two new faces at Aljunied, Fadli Fawzi and Kenneth Tiong. If any of the other former MPs moved to another constituency, three new candidates might have made Aljunied voters skittish. 'If Sylvia goes to another GRC and loses, WP loses one of the veterans in parliament. WP losing a veteran is magnitudes more impactful than PAP losing a veteran,' a Reddit user wrote. 'I personally felt that it was a smart move on their part. Solidifying their foothold in Aljunied rather than sending out their heavyweights elsewhere. How would Aljunied residents feel then? After all, it took them 20 years of hard work in Hougang. Retain existing constituents and recreate 2020 with a quality team to further expand their foothold. That seems like the best possible move now for them,' another agreed. As they say, hindsight is 20/20. Whether the WP played its cards right for GE2025 will be known after the last ballot is counted on May 3. /TISG Read also: Pritam Singh explains why Singaporeans should vote for the WP
