Mr Koe Joo Ann alias Koh Choon Teck, aged 53 and unemployed, is asking the High Court to declare him owner of a unit at a six-unit apartment block called Stevens Court.

However, the defendant, First Grade Agency, wants the property back.

First Grade is the marketing arm of a coconut products company known as the Sambu group in Indonesia where Mr Koe had worked for 28 years until he resigned in August 2004.

He rose from the ranks and was its vice president director.

Mr Koe said the 266 sq m-property was a gift from his uncle, 70-year-old Tay Juhana, in 1996 to reward him for his contributions and sacrifices made to the group.

Mr Tay is the founder and patriarch of the family-owned business.

First Grade Agency, however, denies that the property was at any time gifted to Mr Koe, but held on trust by Mr Koe for the defendant and/or Inhil Development, owner and developer.

It is counter-claiming for an order that Mr Koe transfer the property over, under an agreement he made with his uncle on Aug 25, 2004.

Mr Koe, who was living in East Meadows - a condominium registered in his wife's name - had never lived in the Stevens Court apartment.

The hearing, which is fixed for eight days, continues before Justice Woo Bih Li.