VTU v VTV: Division of Matrimonial Assets, Wife and Child Maintenance

In the divorce case of *VTU v VTV*, the Family Division of the High Court of Singapore, presided over by Choo Han Teck J, addressed the division of matrimonial assets, wife's maintenance, and children's maintenance. The court determined the valuation of assets, including the [EE] Group of Companies, and ruled on the parties' direct and indirect contributions. The court ordered each party to retain assets under their own name, [EE] Tax, [EE] PLT and [Property A] Unit No. 3A to be given to the Husband, and the sale proceeds of the Matrimonial Home to be transferred to the Wife. The court denied maintenance for the wife and ordered the husband to pay $2,000 per month for the children's maintenance and household expenses. The judgment was delivered on 17 August 2022, with judgment reserved on 18 July 2022.

1. Case Overview

1.1 Court

Family Justice Courts of the Republic of Singapore

1.2 Outcome

Orders made to reflect parties' entitlement to the matrimonial pool; no maintenance for wife; husband to pay $2,000 per month for children's maintenance and household expenses.

1.3 Case Type

Family

1.4 Judgment Type

Judgment

1.5 Jurisdiction

Singapore

1.6 Description

Divorce case concerning the division of matrimonial assets, wife's maintenance, and child maintenance. The court determined the asset division ratio and maintenance amounts.

1.7 Decision Date

2. Parties and Outcomes

Party NameRoleTypeOutcomeOutcome TypeCounsels
VTUPlaintiffIndividualDivision of Matrimonial AssetsPartial
VTVDefendantIndividualDivision of Matrimonial AssetsPartial

3. Judges

Judge NameTitleDelivered Judgment
Choo Han TeckJudge of the High CourtYes

4. Counsels

Counsel NameOrganization
Basil Ong Kah LiangPK Wong & Nair LLC
Leonard Chua Jun YiDamodara Ong LLC
Clement Ong ZiyingDamodara Ong LLC
Keith Lim Dao YuanDamodara Ong LLC

4. Facts

  1. The Wife and Husband were married on 20 December 2010 in Malaysia.
  2. The Wife filed for divorce on 7 January 2019.
  3. The parties have two children, aged ten and five respectively.
  4. Both parties have professional accounting qualifications.
  5. The parties founded an accounting firm, [EE] Pte Ltd, which grew into the [EE] Group of Companies.
  6. The Matrimonial Home was bought in the Husband’s sole name sometime in 2017.
  7. The Husband was convicted under s 157 of the Companies Act on 19 November 2021.

5. Formal Citations

  1. VTU v VTV, Divorce (Transferred) No 101 of 2019, [2022] SGHCF 23

6. Timeline

DateEvent
Parties married in Malaysia
Matrimonial Home bought in Husband’s sole name
Wife filed for divorce
Interim judgment granted
Husband convicted under s 157 of the Companies Act
Husband sentenced to imprisonment and disqualification as director
Husband filed notice of appeal
Judgment reserved
Judgment delivered

7. Legal Issues

  1. Division of Matrimonial Assets
    • Outcome: The court determined the pool of matrimonial assets and the ratio of division, taking into account direct and indirect contributions.
    • Category: Substantive
    • Related Cases:
      • [2012] 4 SLR 785
  2. Wife's Maintenance
    • Outcome: The court denied the wife's claim for maintenance, considering her qualifications and earning capacity.
    • Category: Substantive
  3. Children's Maintenance
    • Outcome: The court ordered the husband to pay $2,000 per month for the children's maintenance and household expenses.
    • Category: Substantive
  4. Adverse Inference
    • Outcome: The court did not draw an adverse inference against the Husband.
    • Category: Procedural
    • Related Cases:
      • [2015] 2 SLR 195

8. Remedies Sought

  1. Division of Matrimonial Assets
  2. Wife's Maintenance
  3. Children's Maintenance

9. Cause of Actions

  • Divorce

10. Practice Areas

  • Divorce
  • Family Law
  • Matrimonial Law

11. Industries

  • Accounting

12. Cited Cases

Case NameCourtAffirmedCitationJurisdictionSignificance
Tan Hwee Lee v Tan Cheng Guan and another appeal and another matterHigh CourtYes[2012] 4 SLR 785SingaporeCited for the principle that interspousal gifts are included in the matrimonial pool for division.
Wan Lai Cheng v Quek Seow Kee and another appeal and another matterHigh CourtYes[2012] 4 SLR 405SingaporeCited for the principle that loans incurred after divorce proceedings commenced cannot be considered matrimonial liabilities.
Chan Tin Sun v Fong Quay SimHigh CourtYes[2015] 2 SLR 195SingaporeCited for the requirements to draw an adverse inference.

13. Applicable Rules

Rule Name
No applicable rules

14. Applicable Statutes

Statute NameJurisdiction
Women’s Charter (Cap 353, 2009 Rev Ed)Singapore
Companies Act (Cap 50, 2006 Rev Ed)Singapore

15. Key Terms and Keywords

15.1 Key Terms

  • Matrimonial Assets
  • [EE] Group of Companies
  • Direct Contributions
  • Indirect Contributions
  • Interim Judgment
  • Maintenance
  • Valuation of Assets
  • Director's Duties
  • Personal Guarantees

15.2 Keywords

  • Divorce
  • Matrimonial Assets
  • Maintenance
  • Children
  • Singapore
  • Family Law

17. Areas of Law

Area NameRelevance Score
Family Law95
Matrimonial Assets95
Maintenance90
Maintenance (Child)90
Maintenance (Wife)90
Company Law30
Evidence20
Duty to Account20
Contract Law10

16. Subjects

  • Family Law
  • Divorce
  • Matrimonial Assets
  • Maintenance