Public Guardian moves to cancel wealthy widow’s LPA granted to Yang Yin

SINGAPORE — Following the Court ruling that a wealthy 87-year-old widow has the mental capacity to revoke the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) she had granted to former China tour guide Yang Yin in 2012, the Office of Public Guardian (OPG) said it will proceed to process her application.

The Family Court today (Nov 24) ruled Madam Chung Khin Chun has the mental capacity to change her mind on who should look after her assets and welfare.

When contacted following the Court ruling, a spokesman for the OPG 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.”

Mdm Chung, who was diagnosed with dementia this year, met Yang, 40, in Beijing in 2008.

Previously, the court sessions that were held behind closed doors heard testimonies from two expert witnesses about Mdm Chung’s mental capacity.

The court heard last Friday from Professor Chiam Peak Chiang, a senior consultant of the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) appointed by the court last month to examine Mdm Chung. Her report was submitted to the courts earlier this month. Last Thursday, the court heard from Dr Calvin Fones, who is in private practice and was called to testify about his examination of Mdm Chung in September. Dr Fones had previously certified that Mdm Chung had the mental capacity to cancel the LPA to Yang, who allegedly manipulated her.

On the basis of his 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 IMH examine Mdm Chung while suspending Yang’s powers under the LPA.

The OPG said the move was “necessary to safeguard and protect the interests and assets” of Mdm Chung.

Mdm Chung’s niece, Mdm Hedy Mok, 60, alleged that Yang manipulated Mdm Chung to seize control of her S$40 million worth of assets.

Yang is currently under police remand after he was charged for faking 331 receipts of his firm, Young Music and Dance Studio.