Cheung Kam Yi Betty v Liu Tsun Kie: Division of Matrimonial Assets & Maintenance Dispute
In the divorce case of *Cheung Kam Yi Betty v Liu Tsun Kie*, the High Court of Singapore addressed disputes over the division of matrimonial property and maintenance. The court, presided over by Judith Prakash J, ordered the sale of the matrimonial home at 2 Gentle Drive, with net proceeds to be divided equally between the parties. The court also ordered the husband to pay the wife lump sum maintenance of $480,000, reimburse her for a portion of the children's educational expenses, and repay personal loans totaling $424,000. The court considered the wife's financial and non-financial contributions to the family, including her role as caregiver and her financial support for the children's education.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
High Court1.2 Outcome
Orders made for division of matrimonial assets, lump sum maintenance, and reimbursement of educational expenses.
1.3 Case Type
Family
1.4 Judgment Type
Grounds of Decision
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
Divorce case concerning division of matrimonial property and maintenance. The court ordered the sale of the matrimonial home and equal division of proceeds.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheung Kam Yi Betty | Petitioner | Individual | Orders made in favor of petitioner | Partial | |
| Liu Tsun Kie | Respondent | Individual | Orders made against respondent | Lost |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Judith Prakash | Judge | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Serene Chan Poh Choo | Serene Chan & Co |
4. Facts
- Parties were married in October 1975 and have three children.
- Wife filed for divorce in March 2011 based on husband's adultery.
- The matrimonial home at 2 Gentle Drive was purchased in 1995 for $1.98 million.
- Wife contributed to the purchase of the matrimonial homes and paid renovation costs.
- Wife made personal loans to the husband totaling $424,000 between 2007 and 2011.
- Husband is a director of Strategic Investment Advisors Pte Ltd and Asia-Pacific Mobile Telecommunications Satellite (APMT) Pte Ltd.
- Wife sought repayment of loans, lump sum maintenance, and contribution to children's education costs.
5. Formal Citations
- Cheung Kam Yi Betty v Liu Tsun Kie, Divorce Suit No 1434 of 2011, [2012] SGHC 213
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Parties married | |
| First child born | |
| Second child born | |
| Third child born | |
| Parties purchased Gentle Drive property | |
| Deed of financial arrangement entered into | |
| Wife filed for divorce | |
| Interim judgment of divorce granted | |
| Judgment reserved |
7. Legal Issues
- Division of Matrimonial Assets
- Outcome: The court ordered the sale of the matrimonial home and an equal division of the proceeds.
- Category: Substantive
- Maintenance
- Outcome: The court ordered the husband to pay the wife lump sum maintenance of $480,000.
- Category: Substantive
- Repayment of Loans
- Outcome: The court ordered the husband to repay the wife the sum of $424,000 as repayment of loans.
- Category: Substantive
8. Remedies Sought
- Division of Matrimonial Assets
- Lump Sum Maintenance
- Repayment of Loans
- Contribution to Children's Education Expenses
- Costs
9. Cause of Actions
- Divorce
- Adultery
10. Practice Areas
- Divorce
- Family Litigation
11. Industries
- No industries specified
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wan Lai Cheng v Quek Seow Kee and another appeal and another matter | Court of Appeal | Yes | [2012] SGCA 40 | Singapore | Cited for the method of calculating the multiplier for lump sum maintenance based on life expectancy and retirement age. |
| Ong Chen Leng v Tan Sau Poo | N/A | Yes | [1993] 2 SLR(R) 545 | Singapore | Cited for the method of calculating the multiplier for lump sum maintenance. |
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 Property
- Lump Sum Maintenance
- Deed of Financial Arrangement
- CPF Account
- DBS Joint Account
- Educational Expenses
- Loans
15.2 Keywords
- divorce
- matrimonial assets
- maintenance
- family law
- Singapore
- High Court
17. Areas of Law
| Area Name | Relevance Score |
|---|---|
| Divorce | 95 |
| Family Law | 95 |
| Division of Assets | 90 |
| Matrimonial Assets | 90 |
| Maintenance | 85 |
| Maintenance (Wife) | 80 |
| Maintenance (Child) | 75 |
| Contract Law | 30 |
| Evidence | 25 |
16. Subjects
- Family Law
- Divorce
- Matrimonial Assets
- Maintenance