AHPETC 'will be mounting a vigorous defence': Sylvia Lim
SINGAPORE — Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC) chairman Syliva Lim and her team appeared at the High Court today (May 4) for the start of a two-day hearing on whether independent accountants should be appointed, following lapses in the town council’s management of sinking funds, and governance of related party transactions flagged by the Auditor-General.
SINGAPORE — Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC) chairman Syliva Lim and her team appeared at the High Court today (May 4) for the start of a two-day hearing on whether independent accountants should be appointed, following lapses in the town council’s management of sinking funds, and governance of related party transactions flagged by the Auditor-General.
“As the case is now before the courts, I do not think it is appropriate for me to make any comments. We will be mounting a vigorous defence and doing this in the interest of the residents,” she said to reporters before entering court.
“We believe this court case is wholly unnecessary,” she added.
The Ministry of National Development had applied to the court in March to appoint independent accountants to safeguard government grants to the town council.
On Saturday, AHPETC revealed that it had hired an external accountant to clean up its accounts and advise on strengthening financial controls.