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Wife of former China tour guide Yang Yin included as second defendant in lawsuit
Published on Oct 8, 2014 7:06 PM
Former China tour guide Yang Yin leaving the Police Cantonment Complex alone on Sept 18, 2014. The niece of a rich widow has successfully obtained court permission to sue the wife of Mr Yang. -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW
By Carolyn Khew
SINGAPORE - The niece of a rich widow has successfully obtained court permission to sue the wife of a former China tour guide.
Madam Hedy Mok, the niece of 87-year-old Madam Chung Khin Chun, received court approval on Wednesday to add Madam Weng Yandan, wife of Mr Yang Yin, as a defendant in an on-going High Court suit.
The duo are alleged to have neglected in their legal duties in caring for Madam Chung and Madam Mok is seeking damages.
This is the latest development to take place between Mr Yang and the niece of 87-year-old widow Madam Chung Khin Chun over the widow's assets estimated to be worth $40 million.
Madam Mok had earlier commenced high court action to recover damages from Mr Yang. Last Friday, Madam Mok started legal proceedings against Madam Weng by naming her as a second defendant. Her lawyers had also submitted a court application to extend the Worldwide Mareva Injunction to include Madam Weng's assets.
The next pre trial conference is scheduled to take place on Nov 12.
Last Friday, the family court issued a temporary suspension of Mr Yang's legal powers under the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) granted to him in 2012 by 87-year-old Madam Chung Khin Chun.
The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG), which administers the LPA scheme, had been seeking to suspend both Mr Yang's powers under the LPA, and those of Madam Hedy Mok as Madam Chung's deputy.
But the court decided to let Madam Mok, who is Madam Chung's niece, to continue in her role. She was however told to report legal matters concerning her aunt to the OPG.
Tussle over $40m assets: Court orders wealthy widow to be examined by medical expert
Published on Oct 10, 2014 1:41 PM
The Family Court has ordered the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) to appoint a medical expert to review Madam Chung Khin Chun's mental state. -- PHOTO: ST FILE
By Carolyn Khew And Toh Yong Chuan
SINGAPORE - The Family Court has ordered the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) to appoint a medical expert to review a wealthy widow's mental state.
This will allow the court to decide if the 87-year-old widow Madam Chung Khin Chun has the ability to revoke the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) she gave to Yang Yin, a former China tour guide in 2012.
This is the latest development to take place between Mr Yang and Madam Chung's niece, Madam Hedy Mok. Mr Yang, 40, and his wife, Madam Weng Yandan, are alleged to have neglected their duties in caring for Madam Chung after he was given legal control of her assets worth about $40 million.
Mr Yang befriended Madam Chung while acting as her personal guide on a 2008 trip to Beijing and started living with her at her $30 million bungalow off Yio Chu Kang Road in 2009. His wife and two children, now aged two and eight, moved in last year
Last Friday, the family court issued a temporary suspension of Mr Yang's legal powers under the LPA granted to him in 2012 by the widow. The court, decided to let Madam Mok continue in her role. She was however told to report legal matters concerning her aunt to the OPG.
Earlier, the OPG, which administers the LPA scheme, had been seeking to suspend both Mr Yang's powers under the LPA, and those of Madam Hedy Mok as Madam Chung's deputy.
The OPG has asked the court to decide if Madam Chung has the capacity to revoke the LPA she had given Mr Yang, who moved into her Gerald Crescent bungalow in 2009.
Tussle over widow's assets: Ex-guide hired recruitment firm to apply for work pass
It provided him with secretary who is on the books of more than 1,000 local firms
Published on Oct 16, 2014 8:35 AM
Rikvin (above) had helped Mr Yang set up the Young Music and Dance Studio in March 2009. Its second application on his behalf for an Employment Pass six months later was successful. -- PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
Rikvin had helped Mr Yang (above) set up the Young Music and Dance Studio in March 2009. Its second application on his behalf for an Employment Pass six months later was successful. -- PHOTO: ST FILE
By Toh Yong Chuan And Carolyn Khew
Chinese national Yang Yin was so determined to make a new life in Singapore that he hired a specialised recruitment firm here to set up his company and apply for an Employment Pass (EP), as a prelude to getting permanent resident status.
The studio's address is listed as the bungalow of the wealthy widow who handed control of her $40 million worth of assets to the former tour guide in 2012, after he became a Singapore PR.
Back in March 2009, local recruitment firm Rikvin helped Mr Yang set up the Young Music and Dance Studio, with him as managing director.
A month later, the firm applied for an EP on Mr Yang's behalf. The application was turned down. But Rikvin's second attempt on Mr Yang's behalf, in September that year, was successful, according to Straits Times checks.
By then, Mr Yang was already ensconced in the $30 million Yio Chu Kang home of Madam Chung Khin Chun, 87, the woman at the centre of a legal storm involving Mr Yang, 40, and her niece Madam Hedy Mok, 60, who believes he manipulated her aunt into giving him Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA).
The rest of his family moved in last year.
When The Straits Times visited Rikvin's Equity Plaza office this week, its chief operating officer Satish Bakhda confirmed that Mr Yang was one of its 4,000 clients.
In court papers last month, Mr Yang, who befriended Madam Chung when he was her personal guide in Beijing in 2008, said that she had invited him to Singapore to look after her and wanted him as her "grandson".
"The company was incorporated so that I could run a business and obtain my Singapore permanent residency," he said.
Mr Bakhda told The Straits Times that while he, personally, had never met the man, Rikvin's services to Mr Yang were totally above board.
The firm also provided him with professional secretary Lim Soh Sea.
Ms Lim, 44, is company secretary to more than 1,000 local firms, according to Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (Acra) records. She met Mr Yang for the first time only two weeks ago, when he went to the office to pick up some files.
When asked if his firm had scrutinised Mr Yang's application, Mr Bakhda said that it was not its place to do so.
"Who am I to say, 'What are you going to do (with the company)?'" said Mr Bakhda.
He added that while Rikvin helped Mr Yang to submit annual accounts to Acra through his firm, "we did not do its accounts".
When reporters visited Madam Chung's home last Saturday, the only instrument in sight was a dusty piano with rusted hinges and uneven keys. Indonesian maid Surti, 43, who has worked for Madam Chung since 2007, said she heard Mr Yang run his fingers over the piano once.
Retired teacher Chang Phie Chin, 84, a good friend of the widow who used to live with her at the bungalow, said in court papers that Mr Yang's company was a "sham".
Meanwhile, a court hearing yesterday on two applications by Madam Chung's niece, Madam Mok, was adjourned until Oct 29.
Madam Mok had earlier applied to be appointed her aunt's deputy with full powers - which would allow her to decide on all of Madam Chung's matters. She also applied to revoke Mr Yang's LPA.
The Family Court will be hearing a separate case tomorrow brought by the Office of the Public Guardian to determine whether Madam Chung has the mental capacity to revoke the LPA she granted Mr Yang in 2012, which she now wants to do. She was examined by an Institute of Mental Health medical expert yesterday, as ordered by the court.
Mr Yang also faces separate investigations by the police for suspected criminal breach of trust, and by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority and Manpower Ministry on how he obtained his permanent residency and EP, among others.
Former China tour guide Yang Yin charged in court for falsification of accounts
Published on Oct 31, 2014 4:02 PM
Former China tour guide Yang Yin, who is embroiled in a legal tussle over the assets of a wealthy 87-year-old widow was charged in court on Friday. -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW
By Carolyn Khew
SINGAPORE- Former China tour guide Yang Yin, who is embroiled in a legal tussel over the assets of a wealthy 87-year-old widow, was charged in court on Friday.
The 40-year-old is accused of falsifying the accounts of his company Young Music and Dance Studio between 2009 and 2014 and he faces 11 charges in total.
The Straits Times understands that he was arrested on Thursday afternoon at Police Cantonment Complex for the current charges against him before he was produced in court on Friday afternoon.
Court papers stated that Yang had "willfully and with intent to defraud" falsified receipts of payments to Young Music and Dance Studio, when there were none of such payments. He was represented in court by his lawyer Mr Wee Pan Lee from Wee, Tay and Lim LLP.
Yang set up the company in 2009 with widow Madam Chung Khin Chun and obtained an Employment Pass to work in Singapore. If convicted, he faces imprisonment of up to 10 years, a fine, or both
This is the latest twist in the saga between Yang and the niece of Madam Chung in the legal tussle of her assets estimated to be worth $40 million.
Yang has been remanded and the next mention of the case will be on Nov 5.
Former China tour guide Yang Yin faces another 320 charges for falsification of accounts
Published on Nov 5, 2014 3:36 PM
Former China tour guide Yang Yin, who is embroiled in a legal tussle over the assets of a wealthy 87-year-old widow, was charged in court with another 320 charges for falsification of accounts on Wednesday. -- ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
By Carolyn Khew
SINGAPORE - Former China tour guide Yang Yin, who is embroiled in a legal tussel over the assets of a wealthy 87-year-old widow, was charged in court with another 320 charges for falsification of accounts on Wednesday.
The 40-year-old was represented by his lawyer Mr Wee Pan Lee from Wee, Tay and Lim LLP.
In total, he faces 331 charges for falsifying reciepts amounting to slightly over $450,000 - purportedly paid to his company. These were mainly for music services, such as piano tuition.
Last Friday, Yang was accused of falsifying the accounts of his company Young Music and Dance Studio between 2009 and 2014. Then, he faced 11 charges for falsifying receipts worth $28,000 in total.
Court papers stated that Yang had "willfully and with intent to defraud" falsified receipts of payments to Young Music and Dance Studio, when there were none of such payments.
Yang set up the company in 2009 with the 87-year-old widow Madam Chung Khin Chun and obtained an Employment Pass to work in Singapore.
If convicted, he faces imprisonment of up to 10 years, a fine, or both.
This is the latest twist in the saga between Yang and the niece of the 87-year-old widow Madam Chung in the legal tussle of her assets estimated to be worth $40 million.
Former China tour guide Yang Yin granted court bail of $150,000
Published on Nov 6, 2014 4:19 PM
The former China tour guide embroiled in a tussle over the assets of a rich widow has been granted bail of $150,000, the court decided on Thursday. His passport has also been impounded. -- ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
By Carolyn Khew
SINGAPORE - The former China tour guide embroiled in a tussle over the assets of a rich widow has been granted bail of $150,000, the court decided on Thursday. His passport has also been impounded.
On Wednesday, Yang Yin was slapped with 320 new charges for falsifying his company's receipts.
The 40-year-old had admitted in statements to the police that he created the false receipts so that he could stay in Singapore, said the prosecution on Wednesday.
This brings the total number of charges he faces to 331 in total for falsifying receipts made to his company, Young Dance and Music Studio, between 2009 and this year. The receipts, which amount to slightly over $450,000, were mostly payments for music lessons.
This is the latest twist in the saga between Yang and the niece of the 87-year-old widow, Madam Chung Khin Chun, in the legal tussle over her assets, estimated to be worth $40 million.
The China national had set up the company in 2009 with Madam Chung and obtained an Employment Pass to work in Singapore.
If convicted, he faces imprisonment of up to 10 years, a fine, or both.
Yang's lawyer, Mr Wee Pan Lee, had earlier told the court that Yang's parents had arranged for a $150,000 sum to be remitted to Singapore to pay for bail. This was all they could raise and Yang is unlikely to "make them destitute by running away", said Mr Wee.
Disagreeing, Deputy Chief Prosecutor Tan Ken Hwee argued that this meant only that Yang's bailors, who had to be Singaporeans, would be "proxies" and thus unable to guarantee that he would not be a flight risk.
Ex-guide now probed for $500,000 transfer from widow's account to his dad
AsiaOne Friday, Nov 07, 2014
Ex-tour guide Yang Yin, 40, might have felt relieved yesterday when he was granted bail of $150,000, but his troubles are far from over.
The authorities are now investigating a questionable transfer of $500,000 from the account of Madam Chung Khin Chun, 87, to his father in China, reported The Straits Times today.
Yang is now embroiled in a legal battle over the her wealth. Madam Chung's niece, Madam Hedy Mok, had alleged that Yang had manipulated the elderly woman into handing him control of her assets worth a whopping $40 million.
He also faces 331 criminal charges for falsifying about $400,000 worth of receipts that were supposedly paid to his company, a music school.
While he was granted bail, the judge ordered him to surrender his passport and report to the police at 10am every day. He will be discharged from Changi Prison, where he is being remanded, on Monday after he pays the bail.
Pointing to the $500,000 transfer, the prosecutor argued that the bail should be higher as Yang had the means to pay a bigger sum, according to media reports. But Yang's lawyer argued that there was no evidence that the money is still available.
Madam Mok, who was in court yesterday, told journalists that she was disappointed.
Without giving details, the Attorney-General's Chambers said it would be making an application to the High Court with regard to the bail decision.
AGC challenges court decision to grant former China tour guide Yang Yin bail
Published on Nov 7, 2014 2:56 PM
The Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) has filed an application to the High Court to challenge the decision to grant former China tour guide Yang Yin bail. -- ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
By Carolyn Khew
SINGAPORE - The Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) has filed an application to the High Court to challenge the decision to grant former China tour guide Yang Yin bail.
The AGC said that the criminal revision was filed in the High Court on Nov 7, one day after the State Court had decided to grant Yang bail of $150,000.
A criminal revision is a where the High Court reviews the record of proceedings before a State Court to correct any irregularity in the decision of that court.
The court hearing for this application will take place on Nov 10.
This is the latest development in the legal tussle between the 40-year-old Chinese national and the niece of wealthy widow, Madam Chung Khin Chun, over her assets estimated to be worth $40 million.
Yang now faces 331 charges in total for falsification of receipts made to his company Young Dance and Music Studio.
If convicted, he faces 10 years' imprisonment, a fine or both.
Former China tour guide Yang Yin remanded as High Court makes decision on bail order
Published on Nov 10, 2014 7:34 PM
Former China tour guide Yang Yin has been remanded while the High Court deliberates over whether to reverse an earlier decision to grant him bail. -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW
By Carolyn Khew
SINGAPORE- Former China tour guide Yang Yin has been remanded while the High Court deliberates over whether to reverse an earlier decision to grant him bail.
The Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) had filed an application to the High Court last week to reverse a decision to grant bail to Yang, who is embroiled in a legal tussle over the $40 million assets of a wealthy widow
During the court session on Monday, both the prosecution and Yang's lawyer Wee Pan Lee presented their arguments for and against the earlier decision made by district judge Eddy Tham to grant him bail.
Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon said a decision would be made on Tuesday morning.
The challenge was made last Friday, a day after the State Courts decided to grant Yang bail of $150,000. Yang, who has been detained since Oct 31, has yet to post bail.
This is the latest development in the legal tussle between the 40-year-old Chinese national and the niece of wealthy widow Chung Khin Chun over her assets, which are estimated to be worth $40 million.
Yang faces 331 charges for falsification of receipts worth about $450,000 made to his company, Young Dance and Music Studio.
Deputy Chief Prosecutor Tan Ken Hwee had earlier urged the court to put the bail at $800,000, with four sureties.
He pointed out a recent case in which $600,000 bail and the withholding of a passport were not enough to prevent the accused, facing similar charges, from running away.
Former China tour guide Yang Yin's bail order revoked, High Court decides
Published on Nov 11, 2014 9:56 AM
Former China tour guide Yang Yin had earlier been granted bail of $150,000 by District Judge Eddy Tham. -- PHOTO: ST FILE
By Carolyn Khew
SINGAPORE - Former China tour guide Yang Yin's bail order has been revoked, the High Court decided on Tuesday.
Yang had earlier been granted bail of $150,000 by District Judge Eddy Tham. The prosecution, however, applied to the High Court a day after to challenge Judge Tham's decision.
On Monday, the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) reiterated why Yang should not be granted bail in court, arguing that the earlier decision by Judge Tham had disregarded the 40-year-old China national as a high flight risk, among other things.
Yang is in a legal tussle with the niece of wealthy widow Madam Chung Khin Chun over her estimated $40 million assets.
Explaining his decision on Tuesday, Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon said that it was "not appropriate, at this time, to grant bail to the accused", after taking into account all considerations.
Among others, he pointed out that Yang had not told the court that the sum of about $500,000 was transferred from Madam Chung's account to his father's account in China. This was only discovered when a separate affidavit had been submitted by an Investigation Officer.
In 2010, Yang had transferred half a million dollars to Madam Chung's account before it was later transferred to his father's account on the same day.
The accused also had "few, if any roots" in Singapore, said the Chief Justice who later added that the accused would have the means to live comfortably if he were to abscond.
The Chief Justice had earlier acknowledged that there would be "no water off a surety's back" if the source of bail money did not come from the bailer himself.
Addressing this, Yang's lawyer, Mr Wee Pan Lee, suggested that the order be modified such that the bailor put in an additional sum of money so there would be an incentive for him or her to ensure that Yang would not abscond. He added that it would have been "foolhardy" for Yang to cut his losses by absconding.
Yang faces 331 charges for falsification of receipts worth about $450,000 made to his company, Young Dance and Music Studio.
The prosecution had earlier urged the court to put the bail at $800,000, with four sureties.
The next mention of the case will be on Dec 4. Yang will be remanded in the meantime.
Wealthy widow's medical report submitted to court, hearing to take place on Friday
Published on Nov 12, 2014 1:24 PM
Madam Chung Khin Chun, the wealthy widow at the heart of the saga involving former China tour guide, Yang Yin. -- PHOTO: ST FILE
By Carolyn Khew
SINGAPORE- The medical report concerning the mental capacity of wealthy widow Madam Chung Khin Chun has been submitted to the court.
The Family Court had earlier ordered the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) to appoint a medical expert to review Madam Chung's mental state to assess if she is capable of revoking the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) vested on former China tour guide Yang Yin.
Her niece Madam Hedy Mok has alleged that Yang, 40, had manipulated the 87-year-old widow into granting him the LPA which gives him control over her welfare and assets worth $40 million.
The hearing to decide if Madam Chung has the mental capacity to revoke the LPA will take place on Friday at the Family Court.
Speaking to The Straits Times after a pre-trial conference on Wednesday, Madam Mok's lawyer Andrew Lee and Mr Yang's lawyer Daniel Zhu confirmed that the medical report had been submitted to the court on Monday.
In September, the OPG had asked the court to decide if Madam Chung has the capacity to revoke the LPA she had given to former China tour guide Yang Yin, who moved into her Gerald Crescent bungalow in 2009.
This was after the widow, who was diagnosed with dementia this year, had applied directly to the OPG to revoke the LPA she gave to Mr Yang.
"All parties have received the medical report and will be reviewing it," said Mr Zhu.
This is the latest development to take place between Mr Yang and 60-year-old Madam Mok, over the widow's assets.
Apart from ongoing civil suits, Mr Yang faces 331 charges against him for falsification of accounts.
Hearing to determine wealthy widow's mental state to take place today
Published on Nov 14, 2014 1:05 PM
A hearing to determine the mental health of 87-year-old widow Madam Chung Khin Chun will take place in the Family Court later on Friday. -- PHOTO: ST FILE
By Carolyn Khew
SINGAPORE - A hearing to determine the mental health of 87-year-old widow Madam Chung Khin Chun will take place in the Family Court later today.
Last month, the court had ordered the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) to appoint a medical expert to review Madam Chung's mental state.
This will then allow the court to decide if she can take back control of her assets by revoking the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) that she gave former China tour guide Yang Yin in 2012, four years after meeting him.
Yang was living at Madam Chung's $30 million Gerald Crescent bungalow from 2009 until this September, when he was evicted by her niece Hedy Mok.
Madam Mok, 60, has accused Yang of manipulating her aunt into giving him control of her assets, and is suing him.
Yang claimed Madam Chung wanted him as a "grandson". He became a Singapore permanent resident in 2011. A year later, Madam Chung granted him a LPA, giving him full control of her assets.
When Madam Mok found out about this, she took her aunt to live with her, evicted the Yang family and began court proceedings, which included suing Yang for allegedly breaching his legal duties.
The OPG's application came shortly after Madam Chung's lawyer Eugene Thuraisingam announced on Sept 23 that she had applied to the OPG to cancel the LPA. A psychiatrist who examined her found that she had the mental capacity to do so, despite suffering from dementia.
On Wednesday, Mr Yang's lawyer Daniel Zhu and Mr Andrew Lee, lawyer for Madam Chung's niece Madam Hedy Mok said that the medical report had been submitted to the court on Monday. "All parties have received the medical report and will be reviewing it," added Mr Zhu.
An OPG spokesman had earlier explained that getting the independent medical assessment was necessary to protect the interests and assets of Madam Chung.
"The OPG will decide on the cancellation of the LPA after the court has made a determination on Madam Chung's mental capacity," said the spokesman.
Hearing to decide mental capacity of wealthy widow adjourned to next week
Published on Nov 14, 2014 4:16 PM
Madam Chung Khin Chun in a photo taken in Beijing on Oct 23, 2008. The court hearing to decide the mental capacity of the wealthy widow, 87, has been adjourned to next week. -- PHOTO: MADAM HEDY MOK
By Carolyn Khew And Toh Yong Chuan
SINGAPORE - The court hearing to decide the mental capacity of wealthy widow Madam Chung Khin Chun, 87, has been adjourned to next week.
After the closed-door hearing which lasted for about an hour, Madam Hedy Mok's lawyer Peter Doraisamy told reporters that the hearing has been adjourned to next Thursday and Friday.
He declined to reveal further details on the medical report or what took place during the session.
In Sept, the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) asked the court to appoint a medical expert to determine if she has the mental capacity to revoke the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) she gave to Yang Yin in 2012.
Yang Yin, the 87-year-old widow and the tussle over her $40m assets: the cases so far
Published on Nov 14, 2014 4:20 PM
Former China tour guide Yang Yin faces 331 charges for faking receipts at his company Young Music and Dance Studio, through which he received an employment pass, and then permanent residency. -- PHOTO: ST FILE
By Carolyn Khew
1. Former China tour guide Yang Yin faces 331 charges for faking receipts at his company Young Music and Dance Studio, through which he received an employment pass, and then permanent residency. A decision made by the State Court to grant him bail was struck down by Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon on Nov 12. The case will be mentioned again on Dec 4, by which time the prosecution hopes to finish its investigations, which include analysis of the suspect's handwriting.
2. Investigations into him are still ongoing for possible offences under the Immigration Act and Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.
3. Apart from the criminal case, the 40-year-old Singapore permanent resident also faces civil suits by Madam Chung Khin Chun's niece Madam Hedy Mok. She is suing Mr Yang for allegedly breaching his legal duties and manipulating her aunt into giving him control of her assets. Yang however claims that Madam Chung wanted him as a "grandson".
He met her in 2008, when he acted as her personal tour guide during her trip to China. The next year, he moved into her $30 million Gerald Crescent bungalow. In 2011, he became a Singapore permanent resident. A year later, the widow granted him a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), giving him control of her assets.
When Madam Mok, 60, found out, she took her aunt to live with her, evicted Yang and his family from the bungalow in September and launched a series of legal actions. She managed to get his assets frozen, and last month, she received High Court approval to add Yang's 34-year-old wife, Madam Weng Yandan, as a defendant.
4. The widow has also applied to revoke the LPA she gave Yang. A closed-door court hearing on Friday to decide whether Madam Chung has the mental capacity to do this was adjourned to next week.
Tussle over widow's assets: Local assets of former China tour guide's wife frozen
Published on Nov 17, 2014 2:31 PM
Madam Weng Yandan (in yellow), the wife of former China tour guide Yang Yin, talking to police officers at the Gerald Crescent bungalow home of Madam Chung Khin Chun on Sept 2, 2014. The High Court has frozen the local assets of Madam Weng after a one-hour pre-trial conference on Monday. -- PHOTO: ST FILE
By Toh Yong Chuan
SINGAPORE - The High Court has frozen the local assets of the wife of former China tour guide Yang Yin after a one-hour pre-trial conference on Monday.
However, Madam Weng Yandan, 34, left Singapore in September and it is unclear whether she even has any assets in Singapore. Her husband Yang Yin's assets in Singapore and overseas were frozen by a separate court order since August.
Yang is being sued in the High Court by Madam Hedy Mok, the niece of widow Madam Chung Khin Chun, for manipulating the 87-year-old widow for his own personal gain. Madam Mok is seeking damages which has yet to be assessed by the court.
The 40-year-old Yang met Madam Chung in 2008 while on a private tour in Beijing. He moved to Singapore in 2009 after obtaining an Employment Pass and moved in with the widow at her $30 million Gerald Crescent bungalow. He subsequently became a permanent resident in 2011 and his wife and two young children joined him in Singapore last year.
Yang faces multiple on-going law suits. Besides the court case on Monday, he also faces a separate High Court suit by Madam Mok who is seeking to terminate his Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) over the widow on grounds that he abused his powers. The LPA granted in 2012 gave him control over the widow's wealth and property, including the bungalow.
The police have also charged Yang in court for allegedly faking 331 receipts for music lessons and painting purchases from 2009 to 2014. The receipts were allegedly fabricated to give the impression to the authorities that his firm, the Young Music and Dance Studio, received about $450,000 in payments so that he can obtain permanent residency. He is now under police custody and the court has denied him bail.
This week, the Family Court is also expected to make a decision on a court application by the Office of Public Guardian on whether Madam Chung has the mental capacity to revoke the LPA she granted to Yang.
Decision due on Monday over control of widow's $40 million assets
Published on Nov 21, 2014 5:42 PM
Madam Chung Khin Chun, the wealthy widow at the heart of the saga involving former China tour guide, Yang Yin, having her meal. -- PHOTO: ST FILE
By Toh Yong Chuan
SINGAPORE - The Family Court is expected to decide on Monday whether a rich widow has the mental capacity to change her mind over who should look after her welfare and $40 million worth of assets.
The closed-door hearing on 87-year-old Madam Chung Khin Chun's bid to cancel the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) she granted to former China tour guide Yang Yin in 2012 was adjourned on Friday.
The court called its second expert witness Professor Chiam Peak Chiang, a senior consultant at the Institute of Mental Heath (IMH) to give her testimony. She was appointed by the court in October to examine Madam Chung and her report was submitted earlier this month.
Her nearly two-hour testimony came after another psychiatrist Calvin Fones was called to testify on Thursday on his examination of Madam Chung in September.
Dr Fones, who is in private practice, had previously certified that the widow had the mental capacity to cancel the LPA. On the basis of his report, Madam Chung applied to the Office of Public Guardian (OPG) in September for the LPA to be cancelled.
The OPG then applied to court to have an independent medical expert from the IMH examine Madam Chung, while suspending Yang's powers under the LPA.
The OPG said the move was "necessary to safeguard and protect the interests and assets of Madam Chung". It added that it will make a decision on the cancellation of the LPA after the court makes a ruling on her mental capacity.
Madam Chung, who was diagnosed with dementia this year, met the 40-year-old Yang in Beijing in 2008. Her niece Hedy Mok, 60, has accused him of manipulating the widow to seize control of her $40 million worth of assets, which included a $30 million bungalow. He is under police remand after being charged with faking 331 of his firm's receipts.
Yang is also being probed by the Ministry of Manpower and Immigration and Checkpoints Authority on how he obtained his Employment Pass in 2009 and permanent residency in 2011.
Family Court rules that wealthy widow can revoke LPA of ex-China tour guide
Published on Nov 24, 2014 3:59 PM
Madam Chung Khin Chun, the wealthy widow at the heart of the saga involving former China tour guide, Yang Yin, having her meal. -- ST PHOTO: TOH YONG CHUAN
By Hoe Pei Shan
SINGAPORE - The Family Court on Monday ruled that wealthy widow Madam Chung Khin Chun's application to cancel former China tour guide Yang Yin's Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) over her assets is valid.
The 87-year-old Madam Chung granted Yang the LPA in 2012, but the ruling deems her mentally capable of changing her mind over who should look after her welfare and assets worth $40 million.
A spokesman for the Office of the Public Guardian said on Monday: "Now that the court has determined Mdm Chung's capacity to revoke her LPA, the Public Guardian will process the cancellation of her LPA from the register."
Madam Chung, who was diagnosed with dementia this year, met 40-year-old Yang in Beijing in 2008.
Her niece Hedy Mok, 60, has accused him of manipulating the widow to seize control of her $40 million worth of assets, which included a $30 million bungalow.
She has also sued him in the High Court for abusing his powers as Madam Chung's guardian under the LPA scheme and is seeking damages.
Yang is on police remand after being charged with faking 331 of his firm's receipts.
He is also being probed by the Ministry of Manpower and Immigration and Checkpoints Authority on how he obtained his Employment Pass in 2009 and permanent residency in 2011.
Bid to include China tour guide's parents in tussle over widow's $40 million assets
Published on Nov 26, 2014 6:20 PM
Madam Hedy Mok, the niece in a legal battle over her widowed aunt's estimated $40 million assets, has begun proceedings to sue the parents of former China tour guide Yang Yin. -- ST PHOTO: SEAH KWANG PENG
By Carolyn Khew
SINGAPORE - The niece in a legal battle over her widowed aunt's estimated $40 million assets has begun proceedings to sue the parents of China tour guide Yang Yin.
Madam Hedy Mok is suing 40-year-old Yang in the High Court for allegedly manipulating her 87-year-old aunt for his personal gain.
On Wednesday she launched a bid to include his parents in the lawsuit as well as his bailor - believed to be a Singaporean woman who paid $15,000 to police after his initial arrest in September.
It is not known how much Madam Mok, a tour agency owner, is seeking from the parties but the next hearing is scheduled for Dec 15.
Last week, the High Court issued an order to freeze the local assets of Yang's wife Madam Weng Yandan so that they cannot be transferred out of Singapore.
However, it is unclear if the 34-year-old, who left the country in September, has any assets here.
Her husband's assets in Singapore and overseas have been frozen by a separate Mareva injunction since August.
Yang, who faces several lawsuits and investigations, met Madam Chung in Beijing in 2008 while acting as her private tour guide.
He moved to Singapore in 2009 after obtaining an Employment Pass and moved in with the widow at her $30 million Gerald Crescent bungalow, off Yio Chu Kang Road.
In 2011 he became a permanent resident and his wife and two young children joined him in Singapore last year.
He has been charged in court with faking 331 receipts for music lessons and painting purchases - allegedly so that he could deceive authorities that his music and dance firm had received $450,000 in payments, in order to obtain permanent residency.
Yang is now under police custody. Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon struck down an earlier order made by the State Court to grant the former China tour guide bail, deciding another things that he is a flight risk.
Ex-tour guide's legal powers over widow's assets revoked
Published on Nov 26, 2014 5:54 AM
Yang Yin is seen in a police car on Nov 5, 2014. The former China tour guide, accused of manipulating a wealthy widow into making himself her guardian for his personal gain, no longer has any say over her welfare and finances. -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW
By Hoe Pei Shan
SINGAPORE - Former China tour guide Yang Yin, accused of manipulating a wealthy widow into making himself her guardian for his personal gain, no longer has any say over her welfare and finances.
Yesterday, Madam Chung Khin Chun, 87, succeeded in revoking the order she made in 2012, when Yang was living with her.
The order, called a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), gave him control of her assets, worth around $40 million, in case she loses her mental capacity to manage her affairs.
The revocation was confirmed by a spokesman for the Office of the Public Guardian, a day after the Family Court decided that Madam Chung, despite being diagnosed with dementia earlier this year, had the mental capacity to cancel the LPA.
The saga, which has generated a lot of public interest since news of it broke early in September, is far from over.
Yang is facing 331 charges of faking receipts at his music and dance studio. The receipts allegedly made it seem that his firm, through which he eventually obtained permanent residency, was a viable business.
Madam Chung's niece, Madam Hedy Mok, is also suing the 40-year-old Yang for abusing his responsibilities under the LPA.
But she is relieved that at least this battle has been won. "I'm happy to hear that the LPA aspect is over," the 60-year-old tour agency owner told The Straits Times.
She and her lawyers are currently trying to get her appointed as her aunt's deputy, which would allow her to make decisions on behalf of Madam Chung, under the Mental Capacity Act.
"Someone will have to take care of my aunt's affairs as she ages. She's got only two family members here - her sister and me," said Madam Mok.
"I'm fighting to help her preserve her assets and take care of all her personal matters. She doesn't want any outsider to do that."
Yang moved into Madam Chung's $30 million home in Gerald Crescent in 2009, a year after acting as her tour guide during a Beijing trip.
In 2010, she changed her will to appoint him sole executor and beneficiary of her estate on her death. Two years later, she applied for the LPA.
In September, Madam Mok evicted Yang, his wife and two young children from the bungalow and launched a series of legal actions against him.
Tussle over widow's $40m assets: Ex-guide's parents named as parties to suit
Published on Nov 27, 2014 5:52 AM
Yang Yin is currently in police remand after Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon struck down an earlier order made by the State Courts to grant him bail.
By Carolyn Khew
First it was Yang Yin, then his wife.
Now his parents in China, along with a woman who bailed him out earlier, could be made defendants in a civil suit alleging that the former China tour guide manipulated a multimillionaire widow into handing him control of her wealth.
The lawyer for Madam Hedy Mok, the widow's niece, revealed this yesterday following a 30-minute pre-trial conference at the High Court.
Mr Andrew Lee said an application has been filed to include Yang's parents - Mr Yang Sannan, 71, and Madam He Xianglan, 67 - as parties to the suit. The retirees live in Zhejiang, China.
Singaporean Ong Gek Lie, who paid $15,000 to bail out 40-year- old Yang after his arrest in September, has also been included in that application. She is in her 40s and is believed to have previously worked as a tour guide.
Yesterday's revelations came just a day after an application by the 87-year-old widow, Madam Chung Khin Chun, to revoke the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) she gave Yang in 2012 was granted.
This meant that Yang no longer has a say in her affairs.
Lawyer Valerie Ang, representing Yang Yin on behalf of his lawyers, said they were considering an appeal against Monday's decision by the Family Court which paved the way for the revocation.
It ruled that Madam Chung had the mental capacity to cancel the 2012 LPA, despite having been diagnosed with dementia earlier this year.
Yang had moved into Madam Chung's $30 million home in Gerald Crescent in 2009, a year after acting as her tour guide during a Beijing trip.
In 2010, she changed her will to appoint him sole executor and beneficiary of her estate on her death. Two years later, she applied for the LPA, which gave him control of her assets - worth around $40 million - in case she loses her mental capacity to manage her affairs.
In September, Madam Mok evicted Yang, his wife and two young children from the bungalow and launched a series of legal actions against him.
It is not known how much the 60-year-old tour agency owner, is seeking from the parties. But she has successfully applied to freeze the assets of Yang and those of his wife, Madam Weng Yandan, 34, who returned to China in September.
The next hearing is scheduled for Dec 15, said Mr Lee.
Earlier this month, Yang was charged with 331 counts of faking receipts at his music and dance studio. The receipts allegedly made it seem that his firm, through which he eventually obtained permanent residency, was a viable business and had received $450,000 in payment for services.
Yang is currently in police remand after Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon struck down an earlier order made by the State Courts to grant him bail.
The criminal case will be mentioned again next Thursday.
Yang had previously said that Madam Chung wanted him as a "grandson". Chinese evening daily Lianhe Wanbao also quoted his parents as saying that their son is very filial and has never committed any crime.
