A bank associate, who is being sued for personal injury by his former girlfriend, has been slapped with four criminal charges for assault.

Lim Kwang Wei, 30, is said to have hit lawyer Geraldine Ong, 28, in a house in Dunearn Close at about 2.30am on July 5, 2012. He is also accused, in charge documents, of kicking her in the spine.

Three other charges relate to an incident about three months later in a car in the tunnel of the Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway where he is accused of punching the side of her head, slapping her several times and hitting her ear.

Each of the offences carries a fine of up to $5,000 or jail for up to two years or both, upon conviction. A pre-trial conference on the case was held in the State Courts last week and adjourned to a further hearing next month.

Lim, who is defended by Drew & Napier lawyer Wendell Wong, is also being sued in the High Court by Ms Ong for nearly $290,000 in damages.

The civil case is based on the same incidents in which he is alleged to have hurt her.

According to court documents filed for the civil suit, the alleged July 5 incident happened at Lim's home and the other alleged incidents, on Oct 6 in the tunnel, happened while she was driving him in his car after she had picked him up from Marina Bay Sands.

She was referred to the Tan Tock Seng Hospital for observation on Oct 6 and discharged later in the evening. She was diagnosed with minor head injury and a ruptured left eardrum.

She is seeking damages for pain, suffering and medical costs, claiming that her hearing was impaired, among other things.

Lim is disputing the claims and also wants her to return $36,848 of his, according to defence papers filed by Mr Wong. He claimed the money was given to her on the understanding that she would repay him.

A High Court case management conference was held earlier this month.