Wong Suit Kam v Tan Beng Wah Benny: Division of Matrimonial Assets and Wife's Maintenance
In the divorce case of *Wong Suit Kam v Tan Beng Wah Benny*, heard in the High Court of Singapore on 29 March 2006, the court addressed the division of matrimonial assets and the wife's maintenance after a 33-year marriage. The court ordered a 55:45 split of the matrimonial assets in favor of the husband, directed the transfer of specific properties between the parties, and mandated the husband to pay the wife a lump sum for maintenance.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
High Court1.2 Outcome
Matrimonial assets divided 55:45; husband to pay wife lump sum maintenance.
1.3 Case Type
Family
1.4 Judgment Type
Grounds of Decision
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
Divorce case concerning the division of matrimonial assets and maintenance for the wife after a 33-year marriage. The court ordered a 55:45 asset split.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wong Suit Kam | Petitioner | Individual | Partial | Partial | |
| Tan Beng Wah Benny | Respondent | Individual | Partial | Partial |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Judith Prakash | Judge | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Koh Sian Ann | Tan & Au Partnership |
| Fong Weng Khai | WK Fong & Co |
4. Facts
- The parties were married for almost 33 years before the decree nisi was granted.
- The wife worked various jobs with lower income than the husband.
- The matrimonial home was purchased in 1985 and jointly owned.
- The husband utilized $97,099.47 from his CPF towards the home purchase.
- The wife utilized $44,469 from her CPF towards the home purchase.
- The parties jointly purchased a property in Johor Baru in 1991.
- The husband purchased the Sunshine Plaza apartment in 2002.
- The husband received a commuted pension gratuity of $597,873.08 upon retirement.
5. Formal Citations
- Wong Suit Kam v Tan Beng Wah Benny, D 1353/2004, [2006] SGHC 56
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Parties married | |
| Matrimonial home purchased | |
| JB property purchased | |
| Wife stopped working | |
| Husband retired | |
| Rio Vista apartment purchased | |
| Sunshine Plaza purchased | |
| Wife applied for personal protection order | |
| Husband applied for personal protection order | |
| Citibank account balance disclosed | |
| Husband purchased new car | |
| Husband's shares worth $19,750 | |
| Wife's CPF retirement account balance disclosed | |
| Wife's CPF ordinary account balance disclosed | |
| Husband's POSB account balance disclosed | |
| Wife's savings account balance disclosed | |
| Judgment reserved |
7. Legal Issues
- Division of Matrimonial Property
- Outcome: The court ordered a division of the matrimonial assets in the ratio of 55:45.
- Category: Substantive
- Maintenance of Wife
- Outcome: The court ordered the husband to pay the wife $144,000 in lump sum maintenance.
- Category: Substantive
8. Remedies Sought
- Division of matrimonial property
- Maintenance for the wife
9. Cause of Actions
- No cause of actions
10. Practice Areas
- Divorce
- Family Law
- Asset Division
11. Industries
- No industries specified
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No cited cases | |||||
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| No applicable rules |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Women’s Charter (Cap 353, 1997 Rev Ed) | Singapore |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Matrimonial assets
- Maintenance
- Division of assets
- CPF
- Lump sum maintenance
- Joint property
- Financial contributions
- Household expenses
15.2 Keywords
- Divorce
- Matrimonial Assets
- Maintenance
- Singapore
- Family Law
17. Areas of Law
| Area Name | Relevance Score |
|---|---|
| Family Law | 95 |
| Matrimonial Assets | 95 |
| Division of Assets | 90 |
| Maintenance | 80 |
16. Subjects
- Family Law
- Divorce
- Asset Division
- Maintenance