Worldwide Convention Planners v Lee Khiam Long: Breach of Fiduciary Duty & Director's Duties

In a case before the High Court of Singapore on 15 September 2008, Worldwide Convention Planners Pte Ltd sued Lee Khiam Long, Poh Lye Yee Alan, Poh Jian Xiong Christopher, and Chris Lyn Investment Pte Ltd for breaches of fiduciary duties. The court dismissed Worldwide Convention Planners' claim, finding it unmeritorious and lacking in proof. The first defendant's counterclaim was granted in part, while the fourth defendant's counterclaim for trespass was dismissed, but its claim for the wrongful caveat lodged was allowed.

1. Case Overview

1.1 Court

High Court

1.2 Outcome

Plaintiff's claim dismissed; judgment for the first defendant on counterclaim in part.

1.3 Case Type

Civil

1.4 Judgment Type

Judgment reserved

1.5 Jurisdiction

Singapore

1.6 Description

High Court case involving Worldwide Convention Planners' claim against its director for breach of fiduciary duties. Claim dismissed; counterclaim granted in part.

1.7 Decision Date

2. Parties and Outcomes

Party NameRoleTypeOutcomeOutcome TypeCounsels
Worldwide Convention Planners Pte LtdPlaintiffCorporationClaim DismissedDismissed
Lee Khiam LongDefendantIndividualCounterclaim Allowed in PartPartial
Poh Lye Yee AlanDefendantIndividualClaim DismissedWon
Poh Jian Xiong ChristopherDefendantIndividualClaim DismissedWon
Chris Lyn Investment Pte LtdDefendantCorporationCounterclaim for Trespass Dismissed; Claim for Wrongful Caveat AllowedPartial

3. Judges

Judge NameTitleDelivered Judgment
Choo Han TeckJudgeYes

4. Counsels

Counsel NameOrganization
Quek Seng Soon WinstonB T Tan & Co
Tan Bar TienB T Tan & Co
Tan Kah HinChoo Hin & Partners
N SreenivasanStraits Law Practice LLC
Shankar s/o Angammah SevasamyStraits Law Practice LLC

4. Facts

  1. The plaintiff was incorporated in 1995 to organize conventions and events.
  2. The first defendant held 246,000 shares, with 180,000 in trust for the second defendant.
  3. In December 2000, the plaintiff purchased a property at 51A/B Neil Road for $2,400,000.
  4. The property was sold to the second and third defendants through the fourth defendant for tax purposes.
  5. Resolutions were passed on 30 August 2006 regarding the sale of the property and payments to shareholders and others.
  6. Mr Gilbert Goh contracted to sell his and the second defendant's shares to ASA on 8 September 2006.
  7. The sale of shares to ASA was made with the knowledge that the property had been sold.

5. Formal Citations

  1. Worldwide Convention Planners Pte Ltd v Lee Khiam Long and Others, Suit 578/2007, [2008] SGHC 152

6. Timeline

DateEvent
Worldwide Convention Planners Pte Ltd incorporated.
Worldwide Convention Planners purchased property at 51A/B Neil Road.
Valuation report valued the property at $2,050,000.
Meeting held to resolve the sale of the property.
Mr Gilbert Goh contracted to sell shares to Air Sino Euro Associates Travel Pte Ltd.
Wrongful caveat lodged.
Completion of the sale of the property.
Shares fully transferred to ASA.
Fourth defendant alleged trespass on the property.
Fourth defendant alleged trespass on the property.
Suit 578/2007 filed.
Judgment reserved.

7. Legal Issues

  1. Breach of Fiduciary Duty
    • Outcome: The court found the plaintiff's claims of breach of fiduciary duty to be unmeritorious and lacking in proof.
    • Category: Substantive
  2. Director's Duties
    • Outcome: The court did not find sufficient evidence to support the allegations against the first defendant regarding the falsification of accounts or the disadvantageous sale of the plaintiff's property.
    • Category: Substantive

8. Remedies Sought

  1. Monetary Damages

9. Cause of Actions

  • Breach of Fiduciary Duty

10. Practice Areas

  • Commercial Litigation

11. Industries

  • Event Planning

12. Cited Cases

Case NameCourtAffirmedCitationJurisdictionSignificance
No cited cases

13. Applicable Rules

Rule Name
No applicable rules

14. Applicable Statutes

Statute NameJurisdiction
No applicable statutes

15. Key Terms and Keywords

15.1 Key Terms

  • Fiduciary Duty
  • Director's Duties
  • Shareholder Resolutions
  • Property Sale
  • Dividends
  • Accounting Records

15.2 Keywords

  • fiduciary duty
  • directors duties
  • company law
  • singapore
  • high court
  • convention planners

17. Areas of Law

Area NameRelevance Score
Director's Duties85
Fiduciary Duties80
Corporate Law75
Company Law70
Property Law30
Shareholders30
Contract Law20

16. Subjects

  • Companies Law
  • Fiduciary Duty
  • Directors' Duties