Tussle over $40m fortune: MOM probing ex-tour guide in wealthy widow case
PUBLISHED ONOctober 02, 2014 6:10 AM
SINGAPORE - The Ministry of Manpower said in response to media queries that it is carrying out investigations against Mr Yang Yin - the former China tour guide embroiled in a legal tussle over 87-year-old widow Madam Chung Khin Chun's $40 million assets, reported The Straits Times.
The Ministry declined to provide further details.
This is the latest development in a legal spat involving Mr Yang, 40, who has been accused of manipulating the multi-millionaire widow into handing control of her assets to him.
Madam Chung, who has no children and was diagnosed with dementia this year, met Mr Yang in 2008 while on a holiday in Beijing. He moved into her bungalow in 2009 and in 2010, she made a will leaving all her assets to Mr Yang.
In 2012, she appointed him her guardian, giving him full control of her assets worth $40 million.
On Monday, the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) applied to the court to temporarily suspend the powers of both Madam Hedy Mok, who is Madam Chung's niece, and Mr Yang as deputy and donee under the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) respectively.
Madam Mok, 60, was appointed by the court in August to act as her aunt's deputy in commencing legal proceedings on behalf of Madam Chung under the Mental Capacity Act.
If approved, neither can represent the widow.
Madam Chung requested last week to cancel the LPA and the move is to allow her to be independently assessed by a court-appointed medical expert to determine whether she has the mental capacity to revoke the LPA.
A spokesman told The Straits Times that the Public Guardian must be satisfied that the necessary revocation steps have been taken before the LPA can be cancelled.
Earlier last week, the OPG said it had lodged a report with the Commercial Affairs Department against Mr Yang after it emerged he had boasted about his wealthy and lavish lifestyle online.
The report was made on Sept 17, the same day that Mr Yang was arrested for suspected criminal breach of trust.
yamadak@sph.com.sg