Former China tour guide Yang Yin will not appeal against a court ruling that led to the authorities revoking his power over a wealthy widow's welfare and finances.
The Family Court had ruled two weeks ago that Madam Chung Khin Chun has the mental capacity to revoke the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) she granted Yang in 2012.
The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) proceeded to revoke the LPA on Nov 25 - a day after the Family Court's decision.
Yang's lawyer Joseph Liow told The Straits Times yesterday that his client will not be appealing against the decision. When asked why, Mr Liow declined to reveal details, citing confidentiality reasons. He added that the deadline for appeal was yesterday.
In September, the OPG had requested the Family Court appoint a medical expert to independently assess Madam Chung's mental capacity shortly after she applied to revoke the LPA.
The 87-year-old, who has assets estimated at $40 million, was diagnosed with dementia this year.
Yang's lawyers will return to court tomorrow for a closed-door session to hear an application by Madam Chung's niece Hedy Mok, who is asking for full legal rights to care for her aunt.
At present, the limited deputy powers that the court granted Madam Mok in August allow her only to commence court proceedings on behalf of her aunt to preserve or recover her assets.
Having full deputy rights, however, would mean that she can legally have a greater say in caring for her aunt's personal welfare.
Yang, 40, met Madam Chung in 2008 when he was hired as her personal tour guide on a holiday to Beijing. A year later, he moved to Singapore to live with the widow, who has no children, in her Gerald Crescent bungalow estimated to be worth $30 million.
Madam Mok has alleged, in a civil suit, that Yang manipulated her aunt into handing over her assets estimated to be worth $40 million.
She is now trying to add Yang's wife, Madam Weng Yandan, 34, his parents and his previous bailor as defendants.
Apart from that ongoing civil suit, Yang is facing 334 charges for allegedly falsifying receipts made to his company Young Music and Dance Studio, as well as immigration offences.
