Chan Choy Kheng v Wong Kin Wah: Division of Matrimonial Assets and Maintenance Dispute
In Chan Choy Kheng v Wong Kin Wah, the High Court of Singapore, presided over by Choo Han Teck J, addressed the division of matrimonial assets and maintenance issues following the dissolution of the marriage between Chan Choy Kheng (plaintiff/wife) and Wong Kin Wah (defendant/husband) on May 4, 2010. The court ordered the sale of the Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat with proceeds divided equally, a 70:30 split of the remaining assets in favor of the wife due to the husband's concealment of assets, and set monthly maintenance payments for the children and the wife.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
High Court1.2 Outcome
Orders made for division of matrimonial assets and maintenance for the plaintiff and children.
1.3 Case Type
Family
1.4 Judgment Type
Grounds of Decision
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
Division of matrimonial assets and maintenance dispute. The court ordered the sale of the flat and division of assets, with a larger share to the wife.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chan Choy Kheng | Plaintiff | Individual | Division of matrimonial assets and maintenance awarded | Partial | |
| Wong Kin Wah | Defendant | Individual | Division of matrimonial assets and maintenance contributions ordered | Lost |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Choo Han Teck | Judge | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Loh Wai Mooi | Bih Li & Lee |
| Geralyn Danker | Veritas Law Corporation |
4. Facts
- The plaintiff and defendant were married on 28 March 1987.
- The marriage ended with an interim judgment in the plaintiff's favor on 14 November 2008.
- The couple owned an executive Housing and Development Board flat purchased in 1990.
- The plaintiff contributed $173,336 towards the flat, while the defendant contributed $256,205.
- The plaintiff's disclosed assets amounted to $506,777, and the defendant's disclosed assets amounted to $963,020.
- The plaintiff claimed the defendant concealed assets, including property in the Philippines.
- The defendant's Western Union points contradicted his affidavit regarding remittances.
5. Formal Citations
- Chan Choy Kheng v Wong Kin Wah, , [2010] SGHC 137
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Marriage of Chan Choy Kheng and Wong Kin Wah | |
| Purchase of Housing and Development Board flat | |
| Interim judgment in favor of the plaintiff | |
| Orders made in respect of ancillary issues | |
| Date of HDB loan balance | |
| Defendant earned 60 Western Union points | |
| Defendant earned 125 Western Union points | |
| Judgment reserved |
7. Legal Issues
- Division of Matrimonial Assets
- Outcome: The court ordered the matrimonial flat to be sold and the net proceeds divided equally. The remainder of the matrimonial assets were divided in the proportion of 70:30 in favor of the plaintiff.
- Category: Substantive
- Maintenance for Plaintiff
- Outcome: The court ordered the defendant to contribute $1,000 per month towards the maintenance of the plaintiff.
- Category: Substantive
- Maintenance for Children
- Outcome: The court ordered the plaintiff to contribute $300 per month to the maintenance of the first child and the defendant to contribute $1,600 per month to the maintenance of the second and third children jointly.
- Category: Substantive
- Concealment of Assets
- Outcome: The court found that the defendant had concealed some of his assets, leading to a larger share of the assets being awarded to the plaintiff.
- Category: Substantive
8. Remedies Sought
- Division of matrimonial assets
- Maintenance for the plaintiff
- Maintenance for the children
9. Cause of Actions
- No cause of actions
10. Practice Areas
- Divorce
- Family Law
- Matrimonial & Family Proceedings
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
- Housing and Development Board flat
- Central Provident Fund
- Western Union points
- Remittances
- Concealment of assets
15.2 Keywords
- Divorce
- Matrimonial Assets
- Maintenance
- Singapore
- Family Law
17. Areas of Law
| Area Name | Relevance Score |
|---|---|
| Divorce | 95 |
| Maintenance | 90 |
| Matrimonial Assets | 90 |
| Child Custody | 60 |
| Child Support | 60 |
16. Subjects
- Family Law
- Divorce
- Matrimonial Assets
- Maintenance