Tussle over $40m assets: Court orders wealthy widow to be examined by medical expert

Mr Yang Yin, 40, and his wife, Madam Weng Yandan, are alleged to have neglected their duties in caring for Madam Chung after he was given legal control of her assets worth about $40 million. -- PHOTO: ST FILE
Mr Yang Yin, 40, and his wife, Madam Weng Yandan, are alleged to have neglected their duties in caring for Madam Chung after he was given legal control of her assets worth about $40 million. -- PHOTO: ST FILE
The Family Court has ordered the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) to appoint a medical expert to review Madam Chung Khin Chun's mental state. -- PHOTO: ST FILE

SINGAPORE - The Family Court has ordered the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) to appoint a medical expert to review a wealthy widow's mental state.

This will allow the court to decide if the 87-year-old widow Madam Chung Khin Chun has the ability to revoke the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) she gave to Yang Yin, a former China tour guide in 2012.

This is the latest development to take place between Mr Yang and Madam Chung's niece, Madam Hedy Mok. Mr Yang, 40, and his wife, Madam Weng Yandan, are alleged to have neglected their duties in caring for Madam Chung after he was given legal control of her assets worth about $40 million.

Mr Yang befriended Madam Chung while acting as her personal guide on a 2008 trip to Beijing and started living with her at her $30 million bungalow off Yio Chu Kang Road in 2009. His wife and two children, now aged two and eight, moved in last year

Last Friday, the family court issued a temporary suspension of Mr Yang's legal powers under the LPA granted to him in 2012 by the widow. The court, decided to let Madam Mok continue in her role. She was however told to report legal matters concerning her aunt to the OPG.

Earlier, the OPG, which administers the LPA scheme, had been seeking to suspend both Mr Yang's powers under the LPA, and those of Madam Hedy Mok as Madam Chung's deputy.

The OPG has asked the court to decide if Madam Chung has the capacity to revoke the LPA she had given Mr Yang, who moved into her Gerald Crescent bungalow in 2009.

kcarolyn@sph.com.sg

tohyc@sph.com.sg

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