Tussle over $40m fortune: More time to determine widow's mental state

SINGAPORE - A hearing yesterday to decide whether a wealthy widow has the mental capacity to revoke the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) she granted Chinese national Yang Yin has been rescheduled to next month.

With the legal document, Mr Yang, 40, a tour guide who claims to be a businessman here, can make legal decisions related to 87-year-old Madam Chung Khin Chun's welfare and finances, including what to do with her $40 million fortune.

The Family Court hearing was rescheduled to Nov 14 as the medical expert is still in the process of determining Madam Chung's mental state, said lawyers Peter Doraisamy and Andrew Lee yesterday. They are working for Madam Chung's niece, travel agency owner Hedy Mok, 60, who has separately applied for her aunt's LPA to be revoked, among other things.

Madam Chung, a retired physiotherapist, was examined by an Institute of Mental Health medical expert on Wednesday. She is trying to revoke the LPA she handed to Mr Yang two years ago.

In the meantime, Mr Yang's legal powers under the LPA have been suspended, and Madam Mok is temporarily in charge of making legal decisions on her aunt's behalf, although she must keep the Office of the Public Guardian informed.

Mr Yang is being investigated by the police for suspected criminal breach of trust. He is also being investigated by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority and Manpower Ministry on how he had obtained his permanent residency and employment pass here, among other things.

kcarolyn@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on October 18, 2014.
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