Kua Tee Beng v Ye Caiyan: Recovery of Gifts, Undue Influence, and Resulting Trust Dispute
In Kua Tee Beng v Ye Caiyan, the Singapore High Court addressed a dispute over gifts and property between Kua Tee Beng (Plaintiff) and Ye Caiyan (Defendant). The Plaintiff sought to recover cash and items given to the Defendant, claiming undue influence, duress, unconscionability, and a resulting trust over a property. The Defendant argued the transfers were 'love gifts'. The High Court dismissed the Plaintiff's action, finding no duress, undue influence, or unconscionable conduct, and that the presumption of a resulting trust was rebutted by the Plaintiff's intention to benefit the Defendant.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
High Court1.2 Outcome
Plaintiff's action dismissed entirely.
1.3 Case Type
Civil
1.4 Judgment Type
Grounds of Decision
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
Singapore High Court case involving Kua Tee Beng and Ye Caiyan concerning the recovery of gifts and a property held under a resulting trust. The court dismissed the plaintiff's action.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kua Tee Beng | Plaintiff | Individual | Action Dismissed | Lost | Subbiah Pillai |
| Ye Caiyan | Defendant | Individual | Judgment for Defendant | Won | Ramalingam Kasi, Chong Thian Choy Gregory |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| George Wei | Judicial Commissioner | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Subbiah Pillai | Tan & Pillai |
| Ramalingam Kasi | Raj Kumar & Rama |
| Chong Thian Choy Gregory | Loo & Chong Law Corporation |
4. Facts
- The Plaintiff contributed $295,000 to a property registered in the Defendant’s sole name.
- The Plaintiff gave the Defendant monthly maintenance monies from June 2011 to May 2013.
- The Plaintiff gave the Defendant a second-hand Rolex watch worth $15,000.
- The Plaintiff gave the Defendant $40,000 via cheque.
- The parties were in an intimate relationship from March 2011 to May/June 2013.
- The Defendant took up a mortgage loan of $484,800 from the bank in her sole name for the property.
- The Plaintiff made a will in which he left his entire estate to the Defendant and his three children from his previous marriage in equal shares.
5. Formal Citations
- Kua Tee Beng v Ye Caiyan, Suit No 100 of 2014, [2015] SGHC 53
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Parties met at the Plaintiff's motor workshop. | |
| Plaintiff and Defendant began an intimate, sexual relationship. | |
| Plaintiff started giving monthly maintenance monies to the Defendant. | |
| Plaintiff contributed $295,000 to a property registered in the Defendant’s name over a series of payments. | |
| Plaintiff contributed $295,000 to a property registered in the Defendant’s name over a series of payments. | |
| Plaintiff made a will leaving his entire estate to the Defendant and his three children in equal shares. | |
| Plaintiff stopped giving monthly maintenance monies to the Defendant. | |
| Relationship between the Plaintiff and the Defendant ended. | |
| Suit No 100 of 2014 commenced. | |
| Judgment reserved. |
7. Legal Issues
- Undue Influence
- Outcome: The court found no factual basis for a finding of undue influence.
- Category: Substantive
- Resulting Trust
- Outcome: The court found that the presumption of a resulting trust was rebutted by the evidence of the Plaintiff’s intention to benefit the Defendant with the entire $295,000.
- Category: Substantive
- Related Cases:
- [2014] 3 SLR 1048
- Misrepresentation
- Outcome: The court found that the factual basis for the Plaintiff’s claim in misrepresentation falls away.
- Category: Substantive
8. Remedies Sought
- Transfer of legal title in the Hong San Walk Property to the Plaintiff
- Return of $295,000 with interest
- Damages for misrepresentation
- Return of monthly maintenance monies totalling $85,000
- Return of three Rolex watches worth $50,000
- Return of $40,000 received in cheque
9. Cause of Actions
- Recovery of Gifts
- Breach of Trust
- Misrepresentation
10. Practice Areas
- Civil Litigation
- Property Law
11. Industries
- No industries specified
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chan Yuen Lan v See Fong Mun | Court of Appeal | Yes | [2014] 3 SLR 1048 | Singapore | Cited for the steps a court may take when analysing the possibility of a resulting trust arising in property disputes involving parties who have contributed unequal amounts towards the purchase price. |
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| No applicable rules |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Evidence Act (Cap 97, 1997 Rev Ed) | Singapore |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Love gift
- Undue influence
- Resulting trust
- Hong San Walk Property
- Maintenance monies
15.2 Keywords
- gifts
- trust
- property
- undue influence
- Singapore
- High Court
16. Subjects
- Trusts
- Gifts
- Property Law
- Family Relationships
17. Areas of Law
- Trust Law
- Contract Law
- Family Law