Beatrice Chia-Richmond's firm settles legal battle with RWS over $200k debt

RWS had sued Mrs Chia- Richmond's company Running Into The Sun last year for its failure to pay about $200,000, despite numerous reminders. The actress said the matter has been "amicably resolved".
RWS had sued Mrs Chia- Richmond's company Running Into The Sun last year for its failure to pay about $200,000, despite numerous reminders. The actress said the matter has been "amicably resolved". ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW

The curtain has come down on a court dispute between Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) and a concert promotion company owned by theatre director and actress Beatrice Chia-Richmond.

The integrated resort had sued her company Running Into The Sun (Rits) for almost $200,000 owed from performances of Ah Boys To Men: The Musical, held at RWS from April 18 to May 4 in 2014.

However, the two parties have now reached a confidential settlement and Mrs Chia-Richmond told The Straits Times in an e-mail: "I am happy that this matter has been amicably resolved."

The contract between RWS and Rits for the musical stipulated that the resort was to get a 15 per cent share of the gross ticket revenue and cash sponsorship. Under the agreement, Rits was also to bear the costs of additional or overtime manpower needed for the shows.

After the show's run, RWS issued Rits two invoices totalling $215,870 for its entitlement of the revenue and for reimbursement of its manpower costs.

Rits, which is best known for organising K-pop concerts by major acts like Girls' Generation, made a partial payment of $16,622.

RWS sued Rits in September last year following its failure to pay the outstanding sum of $199,248, despite numerous reminders.

In a default judgment, Rits was ordered by the State Courts to pay the debt as well as interest of $407.34 and $1,800 in legal costs.

When no payment was made, RWS applied for Mrs Chia-Richmond and Ms Wendy Ng, who were directors of Rits at the time, to be summoned to court for questioning over the possible assets available to pay the sum.

Mrs Chia-Richmond is no longer a director of Rits.

The award-winning theatre director and actress was the creative director of the opening and closing ceremonies of the South-east Asian Games last year, and the National Day Parade in 2011 and this year.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on October 15, 2016, with the headline Beatrice Chia-Richmond's firm settles legal battle with RWS over $200k debt. Subscribe