Banner (China) Investment v Ang: Signature Specimen Selection for Handwriting Analysis

In Banner (China) Investment Company Limited v Ang Jimmy Tjun Min, the High Court of Singapore addressed the process for obtaining signature samples for handwriting analysis in a loan repayment claim. Banner claims Mr. Ang owes them S$11,092,061.53, relying on an audit confirmation Mr. Ang denies signing, claiming forgery. The court ordered that the directions made for obtaining signature samples for handwriting analysis are to stand.

1. Case Overview

1.1 Court

General Division of the High Court of the Republic of Singapore

1.2 Outcome

Directions made for obtaining signature samples for handwriting analysis are to stand.

1.3 Case Type

Civil

1.4 Judgment Type

Grounds of Decision

1.5 Jurisdiction

Singapore

1.6 Description

The High Court addresses the process for obtaining signature samples for handwriting analysis in a loan repayment claim, focusing on signature authenticity.

1.7 Decision Date

2. Parties and Outcomes

Party NameRoleTypeOutcomeOutcome TypeCounsels
Banner (China) Investment Company LimitedClaimantCorporationDirections to standNeutral
Ang Jimmy Tjun MinDefendantIndividualDirections to standLost

3. Judges

Judge NameTitleDelivered Judgment
Kwek Mean LuckJudgeYes

4. Counsels

Counsel NameOrganization
Jaikanth ShankarDavinder Singh Chambers
Ng Shu WenDavinder Singh Chambers
Waverly SeongDavinder Singh Chambers
Sumedha MadhusudhananDavinder Singh Chambers
Chua Ze XuanPDLegal LLC
Quek Wen Jiang GerardPDLegal LLC

4. Facts

  1. Banner claims Mr Ang owes them S$11,092,061.53 for a loan.
  2. Banner relies on an audit confirmation allegedly signed by Mr Ang on 3 July 2020.
  3. Mr Ang contends he did not sign the audit confirmation and claims the signature is forged.
  4. The parties agreed to appoint a common expert from HSA to undertake handwriting analysis.
  5. The parties disagreed on the process for obtaining signature samples for submission to HSA.
  6. Mr Ang is a director in three JB companies.
  7. The court directed both parties to work with BCS for a list of at least 15 documents.

5. Formal Citations

  1. Banner (China) Investment Co Ltd v Ang Tjun Min Jimmy, Originating Claim No 192 of 2022 (Summons No 1022 of 2024), [2025] SGHC 12

6. Timeline

DateEvent
Statement of Claim dated
Defence dated
Letter to Court from Davinder Singh Chambers LLC
Judge Case Conference
Further directions given by the court
Letter from PDLegal LLC
Registrar’s Case Conference
Registrar’s Case Conference
Registrar’s Case Conference
Judge Case Conference
Solicitors for Mr Ang wrote to the court
Judgment date
Judgment date

7. Legal Issues

  1. Selection of specimen signatures for submission to handwriting expert
    • Outcome: The court held that the defendant does not have the right to select signature specimens for the handwriting expert’s analysis.
    • Category: Procedural
    • Related Cases:
      • [2019] 2 MLJ 334
  2. Manner of verifying authenticity of authorship of specimen signatures
    • Outcome: The court held that the process set out in the Directions would allow for the authenticity of signatures to be admitted to, or where further information could be provided to assist in assessing if they were indeed made by that person.
    • Category: Procedural
    • Related Cases:
      • [2019] 2 MLJ 334

8. Remedies Sought

  1. Monetary damages

9. Cause of Actions

  • Repayment of loan

10. Practice Areas

  • Litigation

11. Industries

  • Finance

12. Cited Cases

Case NameCourtAffirmedCitationJurisdictionSignificance
Tung Kean Hin & Another (as executor for the estate of Tung Leong Geok, deceased) v Yuen Heng Phong (as administrator for the estate of See Ngan Sang @ Lee Ngan Sang)High CourtYes[2019] 2 MLJ 334MalaysiaCited for the importance of considering the authenticity of authorship of specimen signatures provided for examination.

13. Applicable Rules

Rule Name
No applicable rules

14. Applicable Statutes

Statute NameJurisdiction
Evidence Act 1893Singapore
Evidence Act 1893 s 73Singapore
Evidence Act 1893 s 75Singapore

15. Key Terms and Keywords

15.1 Key Terms

  • Signature specimens
  • Handwriting analysis
  • Audit confirmation
  • Common expert
  • Authenticity of authorship
  • Boardroom Corporate Services
  • Health Sciences Authority

15.2 Keywords

  • signature
  • specimen
  • handwriting
  • analysis
  • expert
  • evidence
  • procedure

17. Areas of Law

Area NameRelevance Score
Handwriting Analysis80
Civil Litigation75
Evidence Law65
Litigation60
Breach of Contract50
Contracts40
Commercial Disputes30
Corporate Secretarial Services25

16. Subjects

  • Civil Procedure
  • Evidence
  • Banking
  • Finance