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Yang Yin’s bail revoked by High Court

SINGAPORE — Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon has revoked bail granted by the State Courts to former tour guide Yang Yin, who is facing 331 charges for falsification of his company’s accounts.

SINGAPORE — Former tour guide Yang Yin will be remanded in prison for at least three more weeks, after his bail was revoked by Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon today (Nov 11).

Yang, 40, is facing 331 charges for falsification of his company’s accounts. He was granted bail at S$150,000 last week by District Judge Eddy Tham and prosecutors took the matter to the High Court, arguing that the order to grant bail was palpably wrong.

CJ Menon today agreed with the prosecution that the district judge had not appeared to take into account the fact that charges faced by Yang are non-bailable, with the onus hence on the accused to convince the court that he should be granted bail.

The district judge had also disregarded the fact that the bail money was going to come from Yang’s parents in China and not his Singaporean bailor, said CJ Menon. The source of funds for bail is material and should motivate bailors to take active steps to ensure that accused persons do not flee the country, he said.

Investigations showed that Yang had in February 2010 transferred S$500,120 from wealthy widow Madam Chung Khin Chun to his father’s bank account in China.

CJ Menon noted that Yang had no roots and no family here and would have the means to live comfortably if he absconded.

Yang seemed to be able to meet other expenses despite having his assets frozen by a Mareva injunction, suggesting he had sources of funds, the Chief Justice said. A Mareva injunction is designed to prevent parties from dissipating assets locally or worldwide to avoid the risk of having to satisfy any judgment against them in legal proceedings.

The prosecution has also indicated that it would aim to complete investigations on Yang so his criminal case could proceed on Dec 4, CJ Menon noted. Beyond that date, the defence may bring a further bail application before the judge handling case mentions in the State Courts, he said.

CJ Menon added that while bail was not appropriate forYang’s case at this time, it did not mean any foreigner without roots here would not be granted bail.

Yang’s lawyer Wee Pan Lee yesterday urged CJ Menon to adjust the bail order for his client if he wished, by getting the bailor to put in her own money.

The Chief Justice today commended Mr Wee for disclosing that Yang’s parents were forking out his bail money, saying the defence lawyer had done the right thing.

Yang, who is from China, had set up his company Young Music & Dance Studio in 2009 with Mdm Chung and obtained an Employment Pass to work in Singapore. He was granted permanent resident status in 2011 and his wife and children arrived in Singapore on Long-Term Visit Passes last year. They have since returned to China.

Yang is also engaged in a civil lawsuit with Mdm Chung’s niece over control of the widow’s assets, estimated to be worth about S$40 million.

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