Chua Lee Choo v Lee Chow San: Dispute over Funds and Loans in Former Lovers' Spat

In a High Court case in Singapore on 2011-11-10, Chua Lee Choo sued Lee Chow San to recover $630,000, claiming she entrusted him with $600,000 from the sale of her condominium and that he took $30,000 from her safe. Lee Chow San denied the claims and counterclaimed for $603,118.83 in loans he made to Chua Lee Choo. The court found that Chua Lee Choo had indeed handed over the $600,000 and that Lee Chow San had taken the $30,000. The court also found that Chua Lee Choo was liable to Lee Chow San for $538,428.83. The court gave judgment for Chua Lee Choo for the difference of $91,571.17.

1. Case Overview

1.1 Court

High Court

1.2 Outcome

Judgment for the plaintiff for the sum of $91,571.17.

1.3 Case Type

Civil

1.4 Judgment Type

Grounds of Decision

1.5 Jurisdiction

Singapore

1.6 Description

High Court case between Chua Lee Choo and Lee Chow San involving claims over funds and loans after their relationship ended. Judgment for the plaintiff.

1.7 Decision Date

2. Parties and Outcomes

Party NameRoleTypeOutcomeOutcome TypeCounsels
Chua Lee ChooPlaintiffIndividualJudgment for PlaintiffWon
Chua Lee Choo of Independent Practitioner
Lee Chow SanDefendantIndividualCounterclaim Allowed in PartPartial
Lee Chow San of Independent Practitioner

3. Judges

Judge NameTitleDelivered Judgment
Lee Seiu KinJudgeYes

4. Counsels

Counsel NameOrganization
Chua Lee ChooIndependent Practitioner
Lee Chow SanIndependent Practitioner

4. Facts

  1. Plaintiff and defendant were former sweethearts who rekindled their relationship in the 1990s.
  2. Plaintiff received $661,000 from the sale of a condominium in August 2000.
  3. Plaintiff withdrew $100,000 and $500,000 in cash from her bank account on 17 and 18 August 2000.
  4. Plaintiff claimed she handed the $600,000 to the defendant for safekeeping.
  5. Defendant started the Watch Shop in 2001.
  6. Plaintiff worked at the Watch Shop until March 2006.
  7. Plaintiff claimed the defendant took $30,000 from her safe in the Watch Shop in 2004.
  8. Defendant counterclaimed for loans made to the plaintiff totaling $603,118.83.

5. Formal Citations

  1. Chua Lee Choo v Lee Chow San, Suit No 225 of 2010, [2011] SGHC 243

6. Timeline

DateEvent
Plaintiff deposited $661,000 from condominium sale into OCBC account.
Plaintiff withdrew $100,000 in cash from OCBC account.
Plaintiff withdrew $500,000 in cash from OCBC account.
Defendant started the Watch Shop.
Defendant allegedly took $30,000 from plaintiff's safe.
Plaintiff's employment at the Watch Shop ended.
Defendant began paying plaintiff $1,000 monthly.
Defendant stopped paying plaintiff $1,000 monthly.
Plaintiff filed writ of summons.
Defendant filed further and better particulars.
UOB bank stated they were unable to furnish records.
Judgment reserved.

7. Legal Issues

  1. Breach of Trust
    • Outcome: The court found that the defendant had received $630,000 from the plaintiff on trust for her.
    • Category: Substantive
  2. Recovery of Loan
    • Outcome: The court found that the plaintiff was liable to the defendant for $538,428.83 in loans.
    • Category: Substantive

8. Remedies Sought

  1. Monetary Damages

9. Cause of Actions

  • Breach of Trust
  • Recovery of Loan

10. Practice Areas

  • Civil Litigation

11. Industries

  • Retail

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

  • Trust
  • Loan
  • Safekeeping
  • Watch Shop

15.2 Keywords

  • trust
  • loan
  • relationship
  • money
  • High Court
  • Singapore

17. Areas of Law

Area NameRelevance Score
Trust Law70
Contract Law50
Commercial Disputes30
Unjust Enrichment20
Loans20
Misrepresentation15
Breach of Promise10

16. Subjects

  • Trusts
  • Loans
  • Personal Relationships
  • Financial Disputes