Tussle over widow's assets: Ex-tour guide Yang Yin charged for falsifying accounts

SINGAPORE - Former China tour guide Yang Yin, who is involved in the legal tussle over a wealthy widow's $40 million assets, was charged in court on Friday for a separate case.

He is accused of falsifying accounts of his company, Young Music and Dance Studio, and faces 11 charges in total, The Straits Times reports.

If convicted, he faces imprisonment of up to 10 years, a fine, or both.

This is the latest development in the case involving Mr Yang, who is alleged to have manipulated Madam Chung Khin Chun, 87, into giving him control of her $40 million assets.

Mr Yang had first met Madam Chung in 2008 while she was on holiday in China. He then moved into Madam Chung's $30 million bungalow a year later and set up Young Music and Dance Studio with her.

The current saga began on Sep 2, when Madam Hedy Mok, Madam Chung's niece, forced Mr Yang's wife and two children out of the Gerald Crescent bungalow.

She also begun court proceedings to strip Mr Yang of a 2012 Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) in which Madam Chung transferred control of her assets to him.

According to reports, Mr Yang was arrested for suspected criminal breach of trust on Sep 17. His employment pass and company was also subsequently probed by the Ministry of Manpower.

On Sep 29, it was reported that the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) applied to the court to temporarily suspend the powers of both Madam Mok and Mr Yang as deputy and donee respectively under the LPA.

On Oct 5, the Family Court temporarily suspended the LPA that gave Mr Yang control of the widow's assets, but allowed Madam Mok to remain in her role for now.

seanyap@sph.com.sg