Attorney-General v Ong Wui Teck: Contempt of Court for Judge-Shopping
In Attorney-General v Ong Wui Teck, the High Court of Singapore sentenced Ong Wui Teck to seven days' imprisonment for contempt of court due to judge-shopping. The court found that Mr. Ong made untruthful statements in affidavits to cause Justice Woo Bih Li to recuse himself from hearing matters related to his mother's estate. The court ordered Mr. Ong to pay legal costs and disbursements to the Attorney-General.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
High Court of the Republic of Singapore1.2 Outcome
Mr Ong was committed to prison for seven days for contempt and ordered to pay legal costs including disbursements to the Attorney-General.
1.3 Case Type
Criminal
1.4 Judgment Type
Grounds of Decision (sentencing)
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
Ong Wui Teck was found guilty of contempt of court for judge-shopping and sentenced to seven days' imprisonment and ordered to pay legal costs.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Attorney-General | Applicant | Government Agency | Judgment for Applicant | Won | Elaine Liew of Attorney-General’s Chambers Khoo Boon Jin of Attorney-General’s Chambers May Ng of Attorney-General’s Chambers |
| Ong Wui Teck | Respondent | Individual | Respondent Sentenced | Lost |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Belinda Ang Saw Ean | Judge | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Elaine Liew | Attorney-General’s Chambers |
| Khoo Boon Jin | Attorney-General’s Chambers |
| May Ng | Attorney-General’s Chambers |
4. Facts
- Mr. Ong made a recusal application for Justice Woo Bih Li to step aside from hearing applications involving his mother’s estate.
- Mr. Ong's affidavits contained false and misleading versions of events.
- The court found that Mr. Ong had an improper motive to judge-shop.
- Mr. Ong deliberately deposed to untruthful evidence in his two affidavits motivated by improper objectives.
- Mr. Ong refused to back down and was not remorseful throughout the committal proceedings.
- Mr. Ong made use of the recusal application to achieve a singular result, willing to commit contempt in the course of his effort to judge-shop.
5. Formal Citations
- Attorney-General v Ong Wui Teck, , [2019] SGHC 147
- Attorney-General v Ong Wui Teck, , [2019] SGHC 30
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Parties were notified that Woo J was assigned to hear the Mother’s Estate Actions. | |
| Originating Summons No 871 of 2017 filed. | |
| Judgment on liability delivered, sentence reserved. | |
| Sentencing hearing held; Mr. Ong committed to prison for seven days. | |
| Stay of execution granted pending appeal. |
7. Legal Issues
- Contempt of Court
- Outcome: The court found Mr. Ong guilty of contempt in the face of the court and contempt by scandalising the judiciary.
- Category: Substantive
- Sub-Issues:
- Scandalising the judiciary
- Interference with the administration of justice
- Contempt in the face of the court
- Related Cases:
- [2007] 4 SLR(R) 17
- [2011] 3 SLR 778
- [2017] 2 SLR 342
- [2006] 2 SLR(R) 650
- [2009] 1 SLR (R) 642
- [2009] 2 SLR (R) 1132
- Sentencing for Contempt of Court
- Outcome: The court sentenced Mr. Ong to seven days' imprisonment and ordered him to pay legal costs.
- Category: Procedural
- Related Cases:
- [2011] 3 SLR 778
- [2005] HKCU 1726
- [1954] VLR 46
- [1969] NZLR 55
- [2006] 2 SLR(R) 650
- [2009] 1 SLR (R) 642
- [2009] 2 SLR (R) 1132
- Judge-Shopping
- Outcome: The court found that Mr. Ong engaged in judge-shopping by making untruthful statements in affidavits to cause Justice Woo Bih Li to recuse himself.
- Category: Substantive
8. Remedies Sought
- Order of committal for contempt of court
9. Cause of Actions
- Contempt of Court
10. Practice Areas
- Criminal Litigation
- Civil Litigation
11. Industries
- No industries specified
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| You Xin v Public Prosecutor and another appeal | Court of Appeal | Yes | [2007] 4 SLR(R) 17 | Singapore | Cited to explain the category of contempt by interference (ie, criminal contempt). |
| Shadrake Alan v Attorney-General | Court of Appeal | Yes | [2011] 3 SLR 778 | Singapore | Cited to explain the category of contempt by interference (ie, criminal contempt) and for sentencing guidelines. |
| Tay Kar Oon v Tahir | Court of Appeal | Yes | [2017] 2 SLR 342 | Singapore | Cited to explain the category of contempt by interference (ie, criminal contempt). |
| Secretary for Justice v Choy Bing Wing | Hong Kong Court of First Instance | Yes | [2005] HKCU 1726 | Hong Kong | Cited for guidance on sentencing in a case of contempt for judge-shopping. |
| Secretary for Justice v Choy Bing Wing | Unknown | Yes | [2005] HKEC 1971 | Hong Kong | Cited for the first instance decision on liability in Secretary for Justice v Choy Bing Wing. |
| R v Collins | Supreme Court of Victoria | Yes | [1954] VLR 46 | Australia | Cited for sentencing in a case of scandalising contempt and contempt in the face of the court. |
| Re Wiseman | Supreme Court of Auckland | Yes | [1969] NZLR 55 | New Zealand | Cited for sentencing in a case of scandalising contempt. |
| Attorney-General v Chee Soon Juan | High Court | Yes | [2006] 2 SLR(R) 650 | Singapore | Cited for sentencing in a case of scandalising contempt and contempt in the face of the court. |
| Lee Hsien Loong v Singapore Democratic Party & Ors | High Court | Yes | [2009] 1 SLR (R) 642 | Singapore | Cited for sentencing in a case of contempt in the face of the court and scandalising contempt. |
| Attorney-General v Tan Liang Joo John and others | High Court | Yes | [2009] 2 SLR (R) 1132 | Singapore | Cited for sentencing in a case of scandalising contempt. |
| Attorney-General v Ong Wui Teck | High Court | Yes | [2019] SGHC 30 | Singapore | Cited for the liability judgment. |
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| No applicable rules |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Section 7(1) of the Supreme Court of Judicature Act (Cap 322, 2007 Rev Ed) | Singapore |
| Order 52 of the Rules of Court (Cap 322, R 5, 2014 Rev Ed) | Singapore |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Contempt of court
- Judge-shopping
- Recusal application
- Affidavit
- Scandalising the judiciary
- Criminal contempt
- Sentencing
- Committal proceedings
15.2 Keywords
- Contempt
- Judge-shopping
- Singapore
- High Court
- Sentencing
17. Areas of Law
| Area Name | Relevance Score |
|---|---|
| Contempt of Court | 95 |
| Judge-shopping | 80 |
| Recusal Application | 75 |
| Scandalising the judiciary | 70 |
| Sentencing | 65 |
| Civil Procedure | 60 |
| Evidence Law | 50 |
| Judgments and Orders | 40 |
| Civil Appeals | 30 |
| Administrative Law | 20 |
16. Subjects
- Contempt of Court
- Judicial Administration