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Court to cancel Yang Yin’s legal powers over widow’s assets

SINGAPORE — The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) will cancel the legal powers that former tour guide Yang Yin has over a wealthy widow’s assets after a court ruled yesterday that the 87-year-old woman had the mental capacity to revoke the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) that she had given him.

Mdm Chung’s niece, Madam Hedy Mok, has accused Yang of manipulating her aunt to seize control of her assets, estimated at S$40 million. TODAY File Photo

Mdm Chung’s niece, Madam Hedy Mok, has accused Yang of manipulating her aunt to seize control of her assets, estimated at S$40 million. TODAY File Photo

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SINGAPORE — The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) will cancel the legal powers that former tour guide Yang Yin has over a wealthy widow’s assets after a court ruled yesterday that the 87-year-old woman had the mental capacity to revoke the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) that she had given him.

The Family Court’s decision came after a four-day hearing in chambers on the bid by Madam Chung Khin Chun, who was diagnosed with dementia this year, to cancel the LPA granted to the China national in 2012.

In response to media queries, an OPG spokesperson said: “Now that the court has determined Mdm Chung’s mental capacity to revoke her LPA, the Public Guardian will process the cancellation of her LPA from the register.”

After a closed-door hearing that lasted for about one-and-a-half hours yesterday, Mdm Chung’s lawyer, Mr Eugene Thuraisingam, told reporters that following a two-day cross-examination of two expert witnesses, the court ruled that she had the mental capacity to revoke the LPA.

When asked if Yang, who is currently in police remand, would appeal against the decision, his lawyer, Mr Daniel Zhu, said he had no comment and would be exploring options.

Last week, the court heard from two expert witnesses who testified about Mdm Chung’s mental capacity.

Psychiatrist Calvin Fones, who is in private practice, had previously certified that Mdm Chung had the mental capacity to cancel the LPA granted to the 40-year-old Yang.

Mdm Chung first met Yang while she was on holiday in China in 2008.

On the basis of Dr Fones’ report, Mdm Chung applied to the OPG in September for the LPA to be cancelled. The OPG then applied to the court to have a separate medical expert from the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) examine Mdm Chung while suspending Yang’s powers over her assets.

The other expert witness, Associate Professor Chiam Peak Chiang, an IMH senior consultant, was appointed by the court last month to examine Mdm Chung. Her report was submitted to the court earlier this month.

Mdm Chung’s niece, Madam Hedy Mok, 60, has accused Yang of manipulating her aunt to seize control of the widow’s assets, estimated at S$40 million.

Mdm Mok has also filed a separate suit in the High Court, seeking damages from Yang over the alleged abuse of his powers as Mdm Chung’s guardian under the LPA scheme.

Yang is currently in remand over a separate criminal case, in which he faces 331 charges of falsifying receipts to his company, Young Music and Dance Studio.

Yang, who was arrested for suspected criminal breach of trust in September, is also being probed for possible violations of employment and immigration regulations by the Manpower Ministry and Immigration and Checkpoints Authority.

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