Parents suing son over house ownership

QX179R SG

A MARRIED couple are suing their younger son over a terrace house in Joo Chiat.

Mr Ang Kim Sai and Madam Ang Gim Yen, both 86, said they are the actual owners and that their son, Mr Ang Kok Beng, 57, is holding the property in trust for them. But the son contended that it was given to him when it was transferred to his name in 1983.

The double-storey house in Langsat Road was bought for about $100,000 in 1974 and valued at $2.5 million in 2009.

The 10-day hearing opened in the High Court on Monday.

Mr Ang Kim Sai, a former Chinese physician, and his wife, a former teacher, have four children, one of whom has died. The elder Mr Ang also has a child with his mistress.

At the time, the couple's understanding of the Housing Board policy was that they were prohibited from being registered as legal owners of the house because they already owned an HDB flat.

-- ST

QX179R SG

AN ELDERLY couple who are suing their younger son over a terrace house in Joo Chiat arrived in court in wheelchairs yesterday, the second day of the hearing into the case.

But only Madam Ang Gim Yen, 86, testified, and she appeared to have trouble recalling matters relating to the house.

The case was adjourned with both parties going into settlement talks.

Madam Ang and her husband, Mr Ang Kim Sai, also 86, are suing their son Ang Kok Beng over the owner-ship of the two-storey house in Langsat Road.

The 57-year-old, a subcontractor, is the youngest of the couple's three surviving children. The elder Mr Ang also has a daughter from another relationship.

The house, bought in 1974 for about $100,000, was valued at $2.5 million in 2009.

-- ST

dragg SG

why like that?

its sad that such things happened.

QX179R SG

THE son said he was not angry that his parents had sued him over the ownership of a terrace house in Langsat Road in Joo Chiat.

But speaking to reporters after both sides had reached an out-of-court settlement yesterday, the parents - Mr Ang Kim Sai and Madam Ang Gim Yen, both 86 - said they were disappointed with their younger son Ang Kok Beng, 57.

The terms of the settlement are confidential.

The parents had bought the double- storey corner house in 1974 for about $100,000. Their older son and daughter were initially registered as the owners because Housing Board regulations prohibited the couple, who already had a flat, from owning the property.

In 1983, the ownership of the house was transferred to their younger son, who is a sub-contractor.

In their suit, the couple contended that they are the owners and that he was holding the house - valued at $2.5 million in 2009 - in trust for them. But the younger Mr Ang said it was a gift.

-- ST