Businessman takes Geylang abbot to court over failed Cambodia casino deal

[Rogue Trader]

Abbot 'pressed' me into casino deal: Businessman
Court told he wants money back as venture did not lift off
Published on Aug 21, 2013
6:50 AM


Mr Chua (above) yesterday testified that the Venerable Meow Di had persuaded him to hand over $1,394,860 after he approached the abbot between August and October 2009 for investment advice. -- ST PHOTOS: AZIZ HUSSIN

A 48-year-old businessman has taken an abbot of a temple to court over a casino deal involving about $1.4 million.

Mr Chua Kwee Sin alleges he had handed the money to Venerable Meow Di, 45, to start a casino in Cambodia, the High Court heard yesterday. But the venture did not materialise and he wants his money back.

Ven Meow Di, however, claims in court papers that his role was to introduce investors like Mr Chua to business consultant William Tan Kheng Tiong, whom he alleges is the brains behind the idea.

Yesterday, when the hearing began, Mr Chua testified that Ven Meow Di had persuaded him to hand over $1,394,860 after he approached the abbot between August and October 2009 for investment advice.

Mr Chua yesterday testified that the Venerable Meow Di (above) had persuaded him to hand over $1,394,860 after he approached the abbot between August and October 2009 for investment advice. -- ST PHOTOS: AZIZ HUSSIN

Ven Meow Di claims his role was to introduce investors like Mr Chua to Mr Tan (above), whom he alleges is the brains behind the idea. -- ST PHOTOS: AZIZ HUSSIN

 

[Rogue Trader]

Re: Businessman takes Geylang abbot to court our failed Cambodia casino deal

Hearing for lawsuit filed by businessman against Buddhist monk begins
The hearing into a lawsuit filed by a businessman against a Buddhist monk began in the High Court on Tuesday.

By Kimberly Spykerman

POSTED: 20 Aug 2013 5:25 PM


SINGAPORE: The hearing into a lawsuit filed by a businessman against a Buddhist monk began in the High Court on Tuesday.

Businessman Chua Kwee Sin claims that he passed a sum of almost S$1.4 million in 2009 to Venerable Sek Meow Di to jointly invest in the opening of a casino in Cambodia.

Mr Chua said Venerable Sek did not proceed to open the casino according to the agreement they made. He said that he made various attempts to recover the money that he gave to Venerable Sek but has yet to receive a single cent.

According to Mr Chua's opening statement, he came to know Venerable Sek after consulting him at a temple in Geylang. Mr Chua wanted to venture into the oil business but Venerable Sek said going into the casino business would be a "safer option".

Mr Chua said that Venerable Sek also assured him that his "men" would run the casino.

Venerable Sek however, presented a completely different picture. He maintains that his only role was to introduce investors that included Mr Chua to a third party -- Mr Tan Kheng Tiong.

Mr Tan was then the CEO of Golden Empire Group, which engages in live casino and gaming operations in Cambodia and Vietnam.

As a monk, Venerable Sek said he has no interest in business -- be it oil or casinos.

Venerable Sek also maintains that Mr Chua's investments were acknowledged by Mr Tan in the form of two receipts. Mr Chua has denied handing any money to Mr Tan.

Mr Tan has also said that he did not receive the money, and that the casino business was strictly between Mr Chua and Venerable Sek. He added that he was only acting as a "manager" as requested by Venerable Sek, and had prepared the receipts on the instructions of Venerable Sek.

Venerable Sek is also seeking a declaration from the court that a letter of demand sent by Mr Chua's lawyers to the Buddhist temple and association he belongs to is defamatory.

The hearing will run till the end of the week.


- CNA/ac

 

[GOD IS MY DOG]

aiyah...............must be some scammish business gone awry lah..................


open casino so little money involved meh.........1.5 million can give the guy what.......1% share of the casino

 

[Narong Wongwan]

The businessman look like some escape convict...
Kns got over a million dollars cash dun play play....

 

[GoldenDragon]

The businessman look like some escape convict...
Kns got over a million dollars cash dun play play....

He is loaded. Drives a Lexus 460.

Monk is a playboy. Has wife and kids. Makan anything that crawls. People in Geylang has nothing positive to say about him. Ming Yi pales in comparison.

Mr Tan resembles the current CP.

 

[Microsoft]

An Albert ask chiu 2 invest in a casino...reali wtf...:p

 

[csi88]

First of all,why should a monk be involved in this matter?

 

[GOD IS MY DOG]

The businessman look like some escape convict...
Kns got over a million dollars cash dun play play....

ah longs also got mah............

 

[GoldenDragon]

First of all,why should a monk be involved in this matter?

This is a super worldly monk. If can have wife and kids, why can't get involved in businesses outside the temple? 100% fraud.

 

[GoldenDragon]

ah longs also got mah............

This businessman is a big gambler at RWS.

 

[Narong Wongwan]

ah longs also got mah............

If ah long or underworld no need to sue the fat fuck abbot.
Use underworld methods liao....

 

[mypools]

currently panamera lah
460 sold many moon ord,

 

[soIsee]

He is loaded. Drives a Lexus 460.

Monk is a playboy. Has wife and kids. Makan anything that crawls. People in Geylang has nothing positive to say about him. Ming Yi pales in comparison.

Mr Tan resembles the current CP.

Look what your Pappy Master has created.

Lack of morals kind of ppl can be religious leaders of every shape and dimension.

Makes ex-dogs like you pale in comparison! Muahahahahahaha

 

[GoldenDragon]

If ah long or underworld no need to sue the fat fuck abbot.
Use underworld methods liao....

What makes you think monk has no backing?

 

[GoldenDragon]

currently panamera lah
460 sold many moon ord,

Thanks for the update. Last year this time, still 460.

 

[Narong Wongwan]

What makes you think monk has no backing?

Hehe ya...never think that angle.
So underworld cannot settle then use legal means?
Then if one side win one side lose still lppl then revert back to underworld means?

 

[GoldenDragon]

Hehe ya...never think that angle.
So underworld cannot settle then use legal means?
Then if one side win one side lose still lppl then revert back to underworld means?

Went 'white' first so 'black' cannot jalan together at the same time. PMed you but box full. Monk is backed by a headman of an SS group.

 

[Narong Wongwan]

Went 'white' first so 'black' cannot jalan together at the same time. PMed you but box full. Monk is backed by a headman of an SS group.

Ok bro. Just for you....Inbox cleared 122 msg 84 unread (all reputation comments).
I kaypoh only hee hee

 

[GoldenDragon]

Ok bro. Just for you....Inbox cleared 122 msg 84 unread (all reputation comments).
I kaypoh only hee hee

Sent. Keep it "TOP SECRET.'

 

[Narong Wongwan]

Sent. Keep it "TOP SECRET.'

Ok noted with thanks bro.
What a monk. Lets see what happens next.