Favourite Son Wins Dispute

Source : TODAY, Thursday, November 29, 2007

Defendant not obligated to distribute late father's assets

THE eight month-long legal battle over the assets of late shipping tycoon Ng Teow Yhee has ended with Justice Woo Bih Li ruling in favour of the defendant and third son Sebastian Ng, 50.

Justice Woo dismissed the claims by the tycoon's 83-year-old widow, Madam Low Ah Cheow, his youngest son, Mr Ng Puay Guan, 41, and second daughter, Madam Ng Bee Eng, 51, which alleged that the patriarch had willed the asset into Mr Sebastian Ng's care, on the understanding that the wealth was to be redistributed to the rest of the family.

The father, a Chinese immigrant who died of cancer in 2001 at the age of 80, found the shipping and stevedoring company Ng Teow Yhee & Sons in the 1960s.

Before he died, he made Mr Sebastian Ng — his favourite son — the sole beneficiary and trustee of his estate.

The patriarch, however, did not share the same bond with the rest of the family, court documents revealed.

Almost five years after his death, the issue remained a sore point with the family and in February last year, they sued Mr Sebastian Ng to reclaim assets they believed were rightfully theirs.

Madam Low had made a claim on the family bungalow at Wiltshire Road, as well as 186,740 shares in the company registered in her late husband's name.

Mr Ng Puay Guan claimed $200,000 for himself as well as $100,000 each for his sons, Ng Zhi Kai and Ng Zhi Hao.

His sister, Madam Ng Bee Eng, on the other hand, had asked for $90,000 as well as 33,320 shares in the company.

Two other daughters chose to drop out of the court tussle, claiming they had no money to pursue the case.

During the trial, Mr Sebastian Ng maintained that he was never instructed by his father to distribute the assets.

While Justice Woo was of the opinion that the patriarch left his entire estate to Mr Sebastian Ng "in the expectation that he would do right by the other family members", he concluded that "Sebastian will have to be dictated by his conscience but there is no legal obligation on him".

Justice Woo dismissed the claims because the "evidence is fraught with inconsistencies and is unreliable".

Though he was pleased with his victory, Mr Sebastian Ng said he was saddened that a private family dispute is now in the public domain.

"I am glad that my family and I can finally move on with our lives, and hopefully, I can now start to mend the relationship with my mother and siblings," he added. Defendant not obligated to distribute late father's assets and siblings," he added.