Tjia Alicia v Aspin Suryanna: Division of Matrimonial Assets and Maintenance Dispute in Divorce
In the divorce case of *Tjia Alicia v Aspin Suryanna*, the High Court of Singapore, presided over by Justice Lee Seiu Kin on 28 June 2007, addressed the division of matrimonial assets and maintenance following a 27-year marriage. The wife, Tjia Alicia, filed for divorce based on the husband's desertion. The court found the husband to still be the owner of his business and ordered a division of matrimonial assets in a 35:65 ratio in favor of the husband, and a lump sum maintenance payment of $840,000 to the wife.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
High Court1.2 Outcome
Orders made for division of matrimonial assets and lump sum maintenance to be paid to the wife.
1.3 Case Type
Family
1.4 Judgment Type
Grounds of Decision
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
Divorce case involving Tjia Alicia and Aspin Suryanna, focusing on the division of matrimonial assets and maintenance after a 27-year marriage. The court ordered a 35/65 asset split and lump sum maintenance.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tjia Alicia (m.w.) | Petitioner | Individual | Orders made for division of matrimonial assets and lump sum maintenance | Partial | |
| Aspin Suryanna | Respondent | Individual | Orders made for division of matrimonial assets and lump sum maintenance | Partial |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Lee Seiu Kin | Judge | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Carrie Ho | JC Ho & Kang LLC |
| Syn Kok Kay | Patrick Chin, Syn & Co |
4. Facts
- The wife filed for divorce against the husband based on his unreasonable behaviour, later amended to two years of desertion.
- The parties were married for almost 27 years.
- The wife gave up her university education to marry the husband.
- The husband claimed he assigned his business to repay a loan, but the wife disputed this claim.
- The husband withdrew US$4.4 million from bank accounts in Singapore in August and September 2003.
- The parties had assets in joint names, in the wife's name, and in the husband's name.
5. Formal Citations
- Tjia Alicia (m.w.) v Aspin Suryanna, DT 3117/2004, [2007] SGHC 104
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Parties married. | |
| Husband's visits to Singapore stopped. | |
| Wife filed for divorce. | |
| Decree nisi granted. | |
| Husband filed an appeal. | |
| Wife filed an appeal. | |
| Judgment issued. |
7. Legal Issues
- Division of Matrimonial Assets
- Outcome: The court ordered a division of matrimonial assets in the ratio of 35% to the wife and 65% to the husband.
- Category: Substantive
- Maintenance
- Outcome: The court ordered the husband to pay the wife a lump sum maintenance of $840,000.
- Category: Substantive
8. Remedies Sought
- Divorce
- Division of Matrimonial Assets
- Maintenance
9. Cause of Actions
- Divorce
- Desertion
10. Practice Areas
- Divorce
- Family Law
- Matrimonial and Family Disputes
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 |
|---|---|
| No applicable statutes | |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Matrimonial Assets
- Maintenance
- Desertion
- Lump Sum Maintenance
- Division of Assets
15.2 Keywords
- divorce
- matrimonial assets
- maintenance
- family law
- singapore
- high court
17. Areas of Law
| Area Name | Relevance Score |
|---|---|
| Family Law | 95 |
| Divorce | 90 |
| Matrimonial Assets | 90 |
| Maintenance | 85 |
| Division of Assets | 80 |
16. Subjects
- Family Law
- Divorce
- Matrimonial Assets
- Maintenance