Automatic Controls v Tan Thiam Soon: Conspiracy and Conversion Claims

Automatic Controls and Instrumentation Pte Ltd sued Tan Thiam Soon and Tay Chin Huat in the High Court of Singapore, alleging conspiracy and conversion. The Plaintiff claimed the Defendants fraudulently misrepresented work hours and misused company resources for unauthorized projects. The court granted interlocutory judgment to the Plaintiff against Tan Thiam Soon for conspiracy and conversion, with damages to be assessed.

1. Case Overview

1.1 Court

High Court of the Republic of Singapore

1.2 Outcome

Interlocutory judgment granted to the Plaintiff against the first defendant for conspiracy and conversion, with damages to be assessed.

1.3 Case Type

Civil

1.4 Judgment Type

Grounds of Decision

1.5 Jurisdiction

Singapore

1.6 Description

Automatic Controls sued former employees for conspiracy and conversion, alleging fraudulent inflation of work hours and misuse of company resources. The court found in favor of Automatic Controls.

1.7 Decision Date

2. Parties and Outcomes

Party NameRoleTypeOutcomeOutcome TypeCounsels
Automatic Controls and Instrumentation Pte LtdPlaintiffCorporationJudgment for PlaintiffWonEric Chew
Tan Thiam SoonDefendantIndividualJudgment against DefendantLostLim Chee San
Tay Chin HuatDefendantIndividualJudgment for Plaintiff by DefaultDefault

3. Judges

Judge NameTitleDelivered Judgment
Woo Bih LiJudgeYes

4. Counsels

Counsel NameOrganization
Eric ChewECYT Law LLC
Lim Chee SanTanLim Partnership

4. Facts

  1. The Plaintiff alleged that the Defendants fraudulently misrepresented the hours worked by workers.
  2. The Plaintiff alleged that the Defendants sent workers to job sites where the Plaintiff did not have projects.
  3. The Plaintiff alleged that the Defendants created time cards for workers who did not exist.
  4. The Plaintiff claimed that the Defendants took the Plaintiff’s materials and tools and used them for unauthorized projects.
  5. The Plaintiff claimed that the Defendants ordered materials and tools on the Plaintiff’s account and used them for unauthorized projects.
  6. The first defendant admitted to signing the Plaintiff’s payment vouchers to recommend payment for the supply of labor.
  7. The Plaintiff paid for laborers who were not working at the Plaintiff’s projects.

5. Formal Citations

  1. Automatic Controls and Instrumentation Pte Ltd v Tan Thiam Soon and another, Suit No 134 of 2015, [2017] SGHC 77

6. Timeline

DateEvent
Judgment obtained against D2 for default of appearance.
Suit filed in 2015
Trial began
Trial held
Trial held
Interlocutory judgment granted to the Plaintiff
Grounds of Decision issued

7. Legal Issues

  1. Conspiracy
    • Outcome: The court found that the first defendant conspired with the second defendant to injure the Plaintiff.
    • Category: Substantive
  2. Conversion
    • Outcome: The court found the first defendant liable for the tort of conversion.
    • Category: Substantive

8. Remedies Sought

  1. Damages
  2. Interest
  3. Costs

9. Cause of Actions

  • Conspiracy
  • Conversion

10. Practice Areas

  • Commercial Litigation

11. Industries

  • No industries specified

12. Cited Cases

Case NameCourtAffirmedCitationJurisdictionSignificance
Chua Kwee Chen and others (as Westlake Eating House) and another v Koh Choon ChinHigh CourtYes[2006] 3 SLR (R) 469SingaporeCited for the standard of proof required in civil proceedings where fraud and/or dishonesty is alleged.

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

  • Conspiracy
  • Conversion
  • Fraudulent Misrepresentation
  • Inflated Working Hours
  • Time Cards
  • Alibaba Projects

15.2 Keywords

  • Conspiracy
  • Conversion
  • Employment
  • Fraud
  • Singapore
  • High Court

16. Subjects

  • Tort Law
  • Employment Law

17. Areas of Law

  • Tort
  • Conspiracy
  • Conversion