Judicial Commissioner’s Ruling Reflects Contempt for Attempted Financial Concealment
In a significant divorce case in Singapore, a man has been ordered by a judicial commissioner to include an additional $10 million in the assets to be split between him and his wife. Initially, the total assets set for division were valued at just around $100,000. However, the new ruling increased the amount significantly, leading to a total of approximately $10.1 million.
The judicial commissioner, Mohamed Faizal Mohamed Abdul Kadir, expressed “utter contempt” for the man’s attempt to hide his wealth, stating that his actions amounted to a fraud on the court, all parties involved, and the justice system as a whole. The man had presented an “utterly unbelievable” picture of his financial status, claiming that his net worth was limited to only tens of thousands of dollars, despite owning substantial assets.
The wife, who had originally requested a 50% share, was awarded 69% of the assets, amounting to about $7 million. The man was left with roughly $3.1 million. The ruling was aimed at holding him accountable for his dishonest financial disclosures during the divorce process.
The couple, who have a six-year-old child together, had been living in Singapore, with the man being an Australian national and his wife a Malaysian citizen. In 2022, the man moved out of the family home, and the wife later filed for divorce.
During the proceedings, the man declared a modest income of $7,500 per month and initially provided limited financial information, including three bank accounts totalling $11,732. However, upon further legal action by his wife, his financial details were exposed, revealing substantial hidden assets.
The court also set a monthly child maintenance payment of $3,700, with both parents responsible for their child’s school fees. The wife, who earns nearly $15,000 a month, was granted joint custody of the child.
