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27-10-2013, 10:59 PM
unbelievable that a renowned lawyer can have such a lawsuit..can see his face by just google search his name?
Sunday, October 27, 2013 - 06:30
Rennie Whang
The New Paper
Lawyer Ong Teck Ghee is facing a new lawsuit and a Law Society disciplinary tribunal following a business deal with another party.
In a claim filed in the High Court on Jan 16, a teacher, who is also a part-time tutor, alleged that Mr Ong owes her more than $1 million. According to documents filed by Ms Zhao Qian, a Singapore permanent resident from China, they entered into two loan agreements on Dec 19, 2011 and Jan 2 last year.
She gave him $150,000 as part of the first agreement, which had an agreed interest or return of $54,000. Then she passed him $500,000 in January last year as part of a second agreement, with an agreed interest of $500,000, she claimed. The sums were for investments in a government-related health project that Mr Ong said he was involved in, Ms Zhao claimed.
Mr Ong returned $51,500 from the first agreement in January and February last year, which were her promised returns, and none from the second, she claimed.
She also alleged that 13 cheques that Mr Ong gave her bounced.
In his defence, Mr Ong said the sums were illegal loans and Ms Zhao was an unlicensed moneylender, so both loan documents were unenforceable.
He also counter-claimed damages for trespassing and defamation, as she had visited his office multiple times with declarations that he was a cheat, he said.
Ms Zhao, who is represented by lawyer Choo Zheng Xi, said they had met in November 2011 at her friend's Prinsep Street shop. As they conversed, he found out she was interested in starting a kindergarten.
He said he had contacts in the industry and floated the idea of a joint venture, she claimed.
Two days later, he called to say his contact in the industry was not ready for a joint venture, but he was in a government-related health project.
He mentioned that he was in touch with some political leaders, but she said she was not interested.
Ms Zhao claimed that Mr Ong called her almost daily to persuade her to join the venture, suggesting that she invest $500,000 as soon as possible, assuring her that she would make a 100 per cent profit in less than a year.
When she expressed scepticism, he invited her to Warren Golf and Country Club on Dec 17, 2011, to join him for lunch after a golf session with people he claimed were important.
She left thinking he had a good standing in society.
Though she could not raise the $500,000 he asked for at that time, she lent him $150,000 which she drew from her and her sister's savings, and proceeds from selling her flat in April 2011.
DOUBTS
Until March last year, Ms Zhao claimed he tried to get her to invest $1 million to cover the costs for what he called a government-related security tender after he won a government project to collaborate with the Commissioner of Police on a technology called IrisGuard.
But by then, she had doubts about his ability to pay her back and turned him down.
He cancelled meetings that were meant for him to pass her money. Then, postdated cheques he had previously given her started bouncing, she claimed.
On April 18 last year, she made a police report over his failure to give back her money.
She also made a complaint of alleged misconduct with the Law Society. Mr Ong now faces a disciplinary tribunal. Ms Zhao's case will be heard on Oct 29.
wrennie@sph.com.sg
Sunday, October 27, 2013 - 06:30
Rennie Whang
The New Paper
Lawyer Ong Teck Ghee is facing a new lawsuit and a Law Society disciplinary tribunal following a business deal with another party.
In a claim filed in the High Court on Jan 16, a teacher, who is also a part-time tutor, alleged that Mr Ong owes her more than $1 million. According to documents filed by Ms Zhao Qian, a Singapore permanent resident from China, they entered into two loan agreements on Dec 19, 2011 and Jan 2 last year.
She gave him $150,000 as part of the first agreement, which had an agreed interest or return of $54,000. Then she passed him $500,000 in January last year as part of a second agreement, with an agreed interest of $500,000, she claimed. The sums were for investments in a government-related health project that Mr Ong said he was involved in, Ms Zhao claimed.
Mr Ong returned $51,500 from the first agreement in January and February last year, which were her promised returns, and none from the second, she claimed.
She also alleged that 13 cheques that Mr Ong gave her bounced.
In his defence, Mr Ong said the sums were illegal loans and Ms Zhao was an unlicensed moneylender, so both loan documents were unenforceable.
He also counter-claimed damages for trespassing and defamation, as she had visited his office multiple times with declarations that he was a cheat, he said.
Ms Zhao, who is represented by lawyer Choo Zheng Xi, said they had met in November 2011 at her friend's Prinsep Street shop. As they conversed, he found out she was interested in starting a kindergarten.
He said he had contacts in the industry and floated the idea of a joint venture, she claimed.
Two days later, he called to say his contact in the industry was not ready for a joint venture, but he was in a government-related health project.
He mentioned that he was in touch with some political leaders, but she said she was not interested.
Ms Zhao claimed that Mr Ong called her almost daily to persuade her to join the venture, suggesting that she invest $500,000 as soon as possible, assuring her that she would make a 100 per cent profit in less than a year.
When she expressed scepticism, he invited her to Warren Golf and Country Club on Dec 17, 2011, to join him for lunch after a golf session with people he claimed were important.
She left thinking he had a good standing in society.
Though she could not raise the $500,000 he asked for at that time, she lent him $150,000 which she drew from her and her sister's savings, and proceeds from selling her flat in April 2011.
DOUBTS
Until March last year, Ms Zhao claimed he tried to get her to invest $1 million to cover the costs for what he called a government-related security tender after he won a government project to collaborate with the Commissioner of Police on a technology called IrisGuard.
But by then, she had doubts about his ability to pay her back and turned him down.
He cancelled meetings that were meant for him to pass her money. Then, postdated cheques he had previously given her started bouncing, she claimed.
On April 18 last year, she made a police report over his failure to give back her money.
She also made a complaint of alleged misconduct with the Law Society. Mr Ong now faces a disciplinary tribunal. Ms Zhao's case will be heard on Oct 29.
wrennie@sph.com.sg
