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If you use Google Maps, you’ll be able to seamlessly book and pay for an Uber ride without leaving the app, said the company in a blog post on Thursday (Jan 13).
Through the latest update to the app, users will be able sign in to their existing Uber account, book a ride and track their driver and even contact him. This works even if you don’t have the Uber app installed on your device.
Google Maps has also expanded its services to include being able to reserve a table at a local restaurant, booking your favourite fitness class to ordering delivery for a night in.
The integration comes with a new look on the ride services option which lets you even take a look at information about your destination while you’re on your way.
Here’s how it works:
sujint@sph.com.sg
SINGAPORE: Feedback to the authorities about wild boars increased sharply last year, with more members of the public contacting the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) of Singapore with complaints, sightings and other comments.
The AVA told Channel NewsAsia on Thursday (Jan 13) it received 140 pieces of feedback about wild boars last year – up from 80 in 2015 and 30 in 2014 – mirroring the increased number of sightings reported by media in recent months.
Family of wild boars at Pasir Ris Dr 12
SNOUT AND ABOUT: A family of wild boars scampering out of hiding along Pasir Ris Drive 12 – an increasingly common sight as the animals are drawn by more people leaving food for them, says ACRES: Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Singapore).
Posted by Channel NewsAsia on Wednesday, 21 December 2016
Last year, two motorcyclists were hurt in separate accidents – in April and November – involving wild boars which had wandered onto expressways. In June, one of the untamed pigs reportedly chased and injured a boy in a Punggol housing estate. A video of a woman feeding the animals in the same vicinity emerged some days later.
In response to the feedback last year, AVA told Channel NewsAsia it trapped and “humanely euthanised” 21 wild boars as relocation options are unavailable.
“SOME OF THE BOARS ARE VERY BIG”
The agency also said 13 of the pieces of feedback it received in 2016 about boars were from the vicinity of Pasir Ris Heights and Pasir Ris Drive 3, which has emerged as a hotspot for sightings. AVA has been conducting surveillance and control operations in the area to ensure public safety.
A wild boar sighted just before dusk, at the junction of Pasir Ris Drive 12 and 3 (Photo: Justin Ong)
Kidz Meadow, a kindergarten located along Pasir Ris Heights, told Channel NewsAsia its staff and students had never encountered any wild boars, although one parent recently informed the school of a sighting at a nearby carpark. In response, the preschool reached out to the National Parks Board, who said it would look into the matter.
Meanwhile, residents in the area who were out jogging and walking on Thursday evening told Channel NewsAsia they were generally unconcerned by the presence of the feral swine.
Two of those people – who did not want to be named – even said they had never seen the boars in their respective 10 and 17 years of staying in Pasir Ris.
Resident Jason Guo, however, said that at least once a week, he would spot a herd of about 10 grazing in the forested area along Pasir Ris Heights. This only started about a year ago, the 25-year-old engineer added.
Another resident, Mr Kong, said boar sightings in the area were infrequent – although the 50-year-old did come across one further up north pounding the running path in Pasir Ris Park.
“Nothing to worry about… If they come near you, just siam,” he said, using the Singlish term for getting out of the way.
When Channel NewsAsia visited the area on Thursday evening, a solitary boar was spotted along Pasir Ris Heights, just before Kiz Meadow Kindergarten.
Spot the boar (Photo: Justin Ong)
But a herd of at least 15 was openly grazing at the junction of Pasir Ris Drive 12 and 3, in close proximity to passing cars and cyclists.
(Photo: Justin Ong)
Neeraj Bansal, who has lived just across the junction for three years, said that sightings had increased sharply in the last two weeks.
“I’m a bit concerned,” said the 33-year-old business analyst. “I have little kids, and some of the boars are very big and have really sharp teeth. Whenever we see them, we turn the other way and go off.”
“I’m not sure how they’re coming here,” he said, while suggesting the authorities could perhaps fence off the forested areas from the main road.
Wild boars graze close to the footpath at the junction of Pasir Ris Drive 12 and 3 (Photo: Justin Ong)
ISLANDWIDE BAN ON FEEDING ANIMALS?
AVA said the wild boars could be venturing into the open due to the presence of food or feeders. “Irresponsible feeding of wild animals can lead to an unsustainable population growth,” said a spokesperson.
“We urge the public to play their part and not feed wild boars.”
Anbarasi Boopal, director of the wildlife rescue centre at the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES), agreed.
“Wild pigs have been fed by public regularly at Lorong Halus and there have been food and food packets left for wild pigs at Pasir Ris as well on the main road. It will draw the animals out,” she said.
“An island-wide ban on feeding wildlife should be implemented to prevent such situations and should be enforced strictly.”
“When wild animals associate humans with food, they will continue to explore outside their habitats, returning for food and may even approach humans for food.”
AVA also advised the public not to approach, disturb, or try to catch the wild boars.
“The public should keep a safe distance from the wild boars and avoid confronting or cornering them, as wild boars may attack if they feel threatened,” said the agency. “Female wild boars with piglets should be left alone as they are very protective of their young.”
A piglet briefly strays on to the road, only to quickly scurry back into the safety of the forest (Photo: Justin Ong)
“Do not interact with the wild boar, and ensure that young children and pets are kept away as they may be curious and approach it.”
AVA said it would continue to monitor the situation and take necessary measures to ensure public safety.
Ms Anbarasi suggested that measures such as trapping and culling were “not a solution”.
“Singapore is growing as a green city where urbanisation meets wildlife habitats,” she explained. “Wild animals will continue to adapt in these pockets and will continue to explore new habitats.”
“In this light, it is very important for everyone to be aware of ways to live in harmony with the wildlife, to prevent human-wildlife conflict situations.”
Business and research hub one-north in Buona Vista will soon have a system that will let people hire bicycles or e-scooters for travel on that “last mile” stretch that is not well served by public transport.
Industrial developer JTC Corporation called a tender for the system on Wednesday, a day after Parliament passed a law allowing personal mobility devices (PMDs) and bicycles on public paths.
In the tender documents obtained by The Straits Times, JTC cited Infinite Studios, a media production building that is about 1km from one-north MRT station.
This was a “significant distance to cover on foot daily”, it said, as it noted the need “to improve last-mile connectivity” for the estate.
Currently, shuttle buses ferry workers to different places in the estate and the two MRT stations: one-north and Buona Vista.
The planned sharing system will give workers in the estate another travel alternative, said Mr Aaron Tham, director of JTC’s New Estate division.
The estate is occupied by businesses and research facilities, and has about 46,000 workers.
The sharing system JTC wants is for 50 bicycles or e-scooters, and seven docking sites for renting these machines.
They are spread across its 200ha estate.
The two MRT stations will each have two docking sites near them.
The remaining three will be at the Nucleos building in Biopolis, the Mediacorp building and Infinite Studios.
The e-scooters or bikes would be available for rent round the clock, seven days a week.
Users can pick up and leave them at any of the docking sites.
Tender documents also proposed a fee structure in which the first 15 minutes will be free.
Subsequent 15-minute blocks will cost 50 cents and after the first four hours, every 15 minutes will cost $1.
This is the second tender for a bike-share system that the Government has called for.
The first, by the Land Transport Authority, was for a bike-share system in Marina Bay, Tampines, Pasir Ris and the Jurong Lake District.
The tender, which closed in December, has yet to be awarded.
Mr David Louey, 34, who runs the MovetoLive gym in Biopolis, said the sharing system is a brilliant idea, but it may take a bit of time for one-north workers to be comfortable hopping on a bike or e-scooter.
“I’ll definitely try it out,” he added. Now, he takes eight minutes to walk to his gym from Buona Vista MRT station.
This is not the first time a bike-sharing system is being tried out at one-north.
In 2012, avid cyclist Francis Chu started such a scheme, with two docking sites.
It closed soon after, owing to poor response.
Mr Chu attributed it to a lack of infrastructure for cyclists to ride safely in the estate.
“I do not see a lot of significant improvements now. During peak hours, the footpath is too narrow and crowded, and on the road, riders need to mix with traffic, and it’s not very safe if you are an inexperienced cyclist,” he said.
He suggested narrowing road lanes, with separate paths built for cyclists and PMD users.
Mr Tham said JTC is gearing up for the system. It will widen the footpaths and build a 7.7km network of paths for the PMDs.
“Sheltered linkways will also be built as part of the mobility network for added convenience,” he said.
dansonc@sph.com.sg
This article was first published on Jan 13, 2017.
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A stroller being taken up an escalator at Raffles Place MRT station on Wednesday became wedged between the steps as it approached the upper landing.
The downward pressure exerted by its wheels caused the steps to dislodge and triggered a mechanism that stopped the escalator, said the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) yesterday.
The child in the stroller was not hurt in the incident.
The BCA said it was aware of another incident last year where a pram became stuck in an escalator and dislodged the steps.
“For your children’s and your own safety, we advise all users not to carry heavy or bulky items, such as luggage, onto escalators,” it said.
“Prams and trolleys should not be used on the escalators too.”
Cleaner Phua Kok Hee, 62, told The Straits Times there was a loud bang when the incident happened.
“I saw people slowly coming down the escalator, and immediately went to tell the staff at the control station,” he said.
The incident took place at Exit A of the busy interchange, which leads to buildings such as Chevron House and One Raffles Place.
Mr Patrick Nathan, SMRT’s vice-president for corporate information and communications, said the area was cordoned off for the safety of commuters.
The escalator is closed for repair and will be reopened when works have been completed and approved, said the BCA.
Mr Lum Chong Chuen, 72, an engineer who has been providing building services consultancy for about 50 years, said such incidents are not common.
“In this situation, if the comb plate (at the top of the escalator) had shifted, the escalator would have stopped to prevent accidents.”
The latest incident comes after stricter rules were announced for the 6,000 or so escalators in Singapore.
Since November last year, it has been compulsory for escalator owners to engage registered escalator contractors for monthly maintenance.
BCA chief executive John Keung said last July that there were “not that many” escalator accidents reported in Singapore, but there had been some abroad.
In 2015, for instance, a woman died in China when she fell through a floor panel at the top of an escalator.
“That’s why we are concerned. Let’s make sure we do all that we can to prevent such accidents,” Dr Keung had said.
jalmsab@sph.com.sg
This article was first published on January 13, 2017.
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Rock star Elton John led the tributes to former England manager Graham Taylor on Thursday, saying the man he saw as a brother had turned his beloved team Watford into a European contender.
Taylor, who also managed Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers, died of a suspected heart attack aged 72, his family said.
“We shared an unbreakable bond since we first met. We went on an incredible journey together and it will stay with me for ever,” said John, who was chairman and owner of Watford during Taylor’s tenure.
“He was like a brother to me,” John wrote on his Instagram account.
“He took my beloved Watford from the depths of the lower leagues to unchartered territory and into Europe. We have become a leading English club because of his managerial wisdom and genius.”
Leading names in the game, including many managed by Taylor, queued up to pay tribute.
Alan Shearer tweeted: “Completely shocked by news of Graham Taylor. Always held him in the very highest regard – the man who gave me my first @england cap. So sad.”
Another ex-England striker, Dion Dublin, said: “He was a very, very, funny man. When I played under him at Aston Villa he taught me so much.”
Gordon Taylor, chairman of the Professional Footballers’ Association, described his namesake as “a real gentleman”.
“It was sad the way that the England job turned out for him, but that’s happened to a lot of England managers,” he said.
“He was a real quality human being. He cared about his fellow pros and the good of the game.”
Howard Wilkinson, chairman of the League Managers Association that Taylor helped form, praised his friend’s work in bringing the FA and top clubs closer together during his reign as England manager.
“I greatly admired him for his honesty, tenacity and professionalism and capacity for innovation,” he said in a statement.
There were also warm words from the world of sports journalism, despite the hard time Taylor received during his disappointing spell in charge of his nation.
Paul Hayward, chief sports writer with the Daily Telegraph, tweeted: “Graham Taylor: a charming man, and very kind. His time with England might have soured him. He refused to let that happen.”
BBC broadcaster Mark Chapman, who worked with Taylor, said: “Graham always had time for people, a smile on his face and a love of football. Considering the abuse he received… says everything about him.”
His BBC colleague, Pat Murphy, tweeted: “Graham Taylor’s decency towards his media denigrators post-England marked him out as an exceptional man. Never forgot but never showed it.”
The Football Association, Aston Villa and Lincoln City, where Taylor began his managerial career, all paid tribute.
IT’S going to be another lacklustre year for dividend investors, as total Singapore dividends in 2017 is projected to rise by just 0.6 per cent, barely improved from last year’s already weak 0.4 per cent rise.
Expected ordinary dividends, excluding one-off payments, for 2017 is S$16.4 billion, compared to S$16.3 billion in 2016, according to financial services provider Markit.
It’s a lot worse in US dollar terms as total dividends in USD are forecast to be down 5 per cent to US$11.3 billion.
And misery loves company. Singapore’s paltry projected return will not even be the worst among the 13 Asia-Pacific countries tracked by Markit.
Thailand’s dividends are forecast to grow 0.4 per cent while dismal performance is expected to come from South Korea (-9.6 per cent) and Hong Kong (-0.8 per cent).
Singapore’s top paying sectors – banking and telco – which account for 45 per cent of the total payouts, are expected to increase dividends by 1.6 per cent and 1.3 per cent in aggregate terms.
However, the per-share payout by companies in the sector are forecast to remain unchanged from the previous year, reflecting moderating growth expected for both sectors, Markit said.
Higher dividend payouts can be due to an enlarged share base from companies offering dividend script in lieu of cash. Singapore’s local banks have been offering dividend script to shareholders in order to conserve cash.
The oil & gas sector continues to struggle and Markit expects another year of double-digit fall in dividends for the sector. It sees the total for the sector dropping 30 per cent to S$506.6 million from S$723.3 million in 2016 which itself was 37 per cent lower from S$1,158 million in 2015.
Markit expects three companies to continue paying special dividends this year as they did in 2016.
They are City Developments, Singapore Press Holdings and Singapore Technologies Engineering.
Overall, Asia-Pacific dividend payouts are dull, especially in USD terms.
In contrast, the rest of the world is going to enjoy a dividend surge, said Markit.
“Dividends are set to rise across the world as commodities firms put last year’s volatility behind them, however Asian stocks lag behind as Chinese and Hong Kong banks trim payments,” it said.
UK dividends top the global league table with a 10 per cent surge in payments forecast, driven by the pound slump and commodities rebound, it said.
Payments by European and North American firms are predicted to grow by over 6.5 per cent.
Asia payments are expected to fall by 2.2 per cent in USD terms although only two markets, South Korea and Hong Kong, registered falls in local currencies.
In total, Apac dividends are forecast to come in lower at US$390.9 billon, representing the first decline in four years, said Markit.
Special dividends are set to be down 63 per cent to US$3.1 billion in an absence of one-off dividends paid by Hong Kong last year due to a number of significant divestments.
The overall poor performance expected stems from the appreciation of the US dollar against Apac currencies. Consequently, markets that traditionally anchor Apac dividends such as Japan and Hong Kong are expected to register 3.4 per cent and 0.9 per cent lower dividends.
Japan is projected to contribute 22.4 per cent to aggregate dividends from Apac, and remains the top payer across the region. In 2017, it is expected to grow dividends to 10.2 trillion yen (S$127 billion), an increase of 5.2 per cent, backed by dividend growth across all sectors.
Hong Kong is expected to be the second largest contributor to Apac dividends this year at HK$599 billion (S$110 billion), down 0.8 per cent from the year before.
The majority of Hong Kong payouts continue to be driven largely by the banks, real estate companies and telcos, which are expected to cumulatively contribute 56 per cent to the country’s payout.
Banking dividends are forecast to continue on a downward trend, with 15 out of 21 companies in this segment likely to cut dividends.
Markit expects banking dividends to fall by 4.9 per cent in the coming year, largely due to the decline in dividends from the big four Chinese banks. The largest expected increase from banking for 2017 will come from Postal Savings Bank of China, which will be paying a maiden dividend since its listing in September 2016. Postal Savings Bank of China is expected to pay HK$3.1 billion in dividends in 2017, said Markit.
India is the top Apac country for dividend growth. Its aggregate dividend is expected to rise 11.3 per to US$16.5 billion, equivalent to a 12.8 per cent increase to INR 1.1 trillion (S$23 billion).
The technology sector is set to contribute one-fifth of the total dividends for a third consecutive year in 2017 with projected payments of INR 235.2 billion. The sector has continuously delivered double-digit increases in dividends since 2013, except for 2016 when new dividend distribution tax became effective and distribution growth was muted, said Markit.
This article was first published on Jan 13, 2017.
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Laser lights being flashed at planes is a growing concern for pilots, including those who fly in and out of Changi Airport.
They appear harmless but laser pointers can cause temporary blindness, which is especially dangerous during take-off and landing.
Between January and November last year, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) received 53 reports of laser lights being flashed here, compared with 28 for the whole of 2015.
Worldwide, the number of incidents has jumped from one a day in 2008 to 17 in 2012, which is more than 6,200 a year.
Recent data is not available but the industry estimates that the figure has easily doubled in the last four years.
While such acts have not caused any serious mishaps yet, the numbers are alarming, said pilots and airlines.
Mr Loo Chee Beng, CAAS’ director of air navigation services policy and planning, said: “A laser light shone into an aircraft cockpit can confuse, distract or cause discomfort to the pilots.”
In more severe cases, pilots may experience temporary flash blindness, and even suffer from eye injuries leading to incapacitation.
“These effects are significant hazards to flight operations and put lives at risk, especially during the critical phases of flight, that is, during take-off and landing,” Mr Loo said.
Laser pointers, commonly used during meetings or presentations, typically emit a red, green or blue light.
Even at a very low power of 5 milliwatts (mW), the pen-like battery-operated devices can cause temporary flash blindness in pilots if aimed directly at the eye – even from the ground.
Singapore Airlines (SIA) spokesman Nicholas Ionides said that in such situations, pilots are trained to follow procedures such as looking away from the source and shielding their eyes, alerting other crew members and handing over control of the aircraft to somebody else.
The International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (Ifalpa) said such attacks are frequently the result of deliberate action.
“This is either because the perpetrator has a lack of understanding of the consequences, or of more concern, the perpetrator understands the hazards of lasers and illuminates aircraft with the intent of doing harm,” it added.
The association is “deeply concerned at the alarming increase in laser strike incidences” and wants such acts to be classified as unlawful, added Ifalpa’s acting president, Captain Ron Abel.
A proposal, supported by other industry players, including the International Air Transport Association (Iata), has been submitted to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) – the commercial aviation arm of the United Nations.
In Singapore, where there are already penalties against such acts, first-time offenders can be fined up to $20,000.
In the case of a subsequent conviction, offenders face a maximum penalty of a $40,000 fine and a jail term of up to 15 months.
The Straits Times understands that so far no one has been prosecuted.
karam@sph.com.sg
This article was first published on January 13, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.
When the National Stadium reopened its doors in 2014, there were hopes that the dazzling new facility would become a fortress for the Singapore football team.
That vision now hangs in the balance.
The Straits Times understands that the Singapore Sports Hub and the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) have so far failed to agree on an extension of their memorandum of understanding (MOU).
The MOU, which allows the Lions to play their matches at the 55,000-capacity venue at a lower-than-market rate, expired last month.
Cost is a reason for the impasse, with the FAS expected to fork out $180,000 per game held under the dome.
It is also believed the Sports Hub wants FAS to commit to holding at least 10 matches at the stadium.
The Lions, who are No. 165 in Fifa’s world rankings, are scheduled to play five Asian Cup third-round qualifiers – home and away – this year, with the first match taking place on March 28.
The two parties, along with local sport governing body Sport Singapore, will meet again today.
An FAS spokesman said: “We are constantly exploring the possibility of hosting the national team’s matches at the Sports Hub whenever possible – even if we acknowledge that some matches may only attract a certain number of fans.
“Any deal needs to make financial sense for both parties.
The FAS in particular has to be financially prudent.
While we have independently raised revenue, we continue to receive funding both from the Government and the Tote Board and must therefore manage our finances in a responsible way.”
The Sports Hub’s senior director for corporate communications and stakeholder management Chin Sau Ho insists “football is integral to the Singapore Sport Hub’s content strategy”.
He added: “We look forward to presenting more football, especially the Lions, in the National Stadium in close collaboration with the FAS.”
It remains to be seen if both parties can reach a compromise.
The FAS’ spending is already under the spotlight, with SportSG taking control of the funding it receives from the Tote Board last week.
Previously, the FAS administered the Tote Board’s subsidy, believed to be around $25 million annually, directly.
The Sports Hub is also under pressure to deliver more events at the National Stadium.
British band Coldplay and the HSBC World Rugby Singapore Sevens are the only notable events lined up this year.
Last month, ST reported that several suite owners at the National Stadium were unhappy with the lacklustre event line-up and were unsure if they would renew their memberships.
Since the Sports Hub opened in 2014, the Lions have played eight of their 16 home matches under the iconic dome – winning three, drawing one and losing four of them.
The remaining matches were played at stadiums in Jalan Besar, Yishun, Hougang and Bishan.
Singapore football fan Reza Putra Salam said: “As a fan, of course I want the national team to play at the National Stadium. It is the only venue that can bring so many Singaporeans of all walks of life together.
“Singapore football isn’t in the best place now and maybe this means fewer fans will turn up. It needs to improve but we should also support the Lions along the way.”
siangyee@sph.com.sg
This article was first published on Jan 13, 2017.
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In a change of courtroom roles, Senior Counsel Philip Jeyaretnam took the witness stand yesterday to testify how he uncovered circumstances that led him to suspect a distant relative had been exploited into giving $5 million to her maid, a construction worker and an engineer.
The relative is the late Dr Freda Paul, a retired doctor who died in August last year at the age of 87.
In his capacity as one of two executors of her estate, Mr Jeyaretnam is suing the trio and two others to get back the money she had given away in 2010.
He argued she was mentally incapable of understanding the effect of the gifts and had acted under undue influence.
Mr Jeyaretnam, a son of late politician J. B. Jeyaretnam, is not a beneficiary of her estate.
His grandfather and Dr Paul’s father were cousins.
“The reason we brought the suit is (that) there is a whole plethora of suspicious circumstances,” he said when cross-examined.
Among other things, he noted that Dr Paul’s written instructions to a lawyer in 2009 were uncharacteristically peppered with spelling errors.
He also found it “deeply suspicious” that monthly payments of $9,000 she got from a reverse mortgage in 2007 were cashed out immediately.
Dr Paul, who was a paediatrician at Singapore General Hospital, never married and her sole asset was a house in Haig Road, which was sold in 2009 for $15.4 million.
In 2001, she befriended Mr Kulandaivelu Malayaperumal, a worker at a nearby construction site, and his supervisor, engineer Gopal Subramaniam.
Both were from India.
She was then living with her mentally disabled sister and Sri Lankan maid Arulampalam Kanthimathy.
In 2007, she willed the bulk of her wealth to be used to set up a bursary fund for needy female medical students at the National University of Singapore.
Four cousins in Malaysia were the other beneficiaries.
By May 2009, Mr Malayaperumal would occasionally stay over at her home.
In September 2009, after her sister died, Dr Paul told her lawyer to prepare a power of attorney, authorising Mr Subramaniam to sell the house.
He deposited $10 million into her bank account, gave $1 million to Mr Malayaperumal, $1 million to Ms Kanthimathy, and $912,000 to himself.
He also used $2.4 million to buy a smaller house in Ceylon Road for Dr Paul.
Six months later, Mr Malayaperumal and Ms Kanthimathy each received another $1 million.
Property agent Parvathi Somu, who handled the deals, received $500,000.
The maid was added as a joint holder of Dr Paul’s bank account.
Around the same time, Dr Paul made a will, this time leaving most of her assets to Mr Malayaperumal and Ms Kanthimathy.
There was no bequest for the bursary fund.
In his testimony, Mr Jeyaretnam said that in 2012, another relative – Dr Ruhunadevi Joshua – told him she and her husband had visited Dr Paul, but the maid did not let them in.
Mr Jeyaretnam said that when he visited Dr Paul, she could not recognise him.
In 2013, he and Dr Joshua applied and were appointed to be deputies under the Mental Capacity Act to manage Dr Paul’s affairs.
On finding out, among other things, that Dr Paul made the 2010 will even though she was medically unfit, he suspected she had been exploited, he said.
He and Dr Joshua went to court to reinstate the terms in the 2007 will.
They also sued five people, including the lawyer who prepared the power of attorney, to recover the $5.4 million.
A default judgment was obtained against the maid after she failed to respond to the suit.
The claims against the property agent and lawyer were settled out of court.
Mr Malayaperumal and Mr Subramaniam argued that Dr Paul was of sound mind at the time.
Mr Malayaperumal contends she had willingly given him the money.
Mr Subramaniam denied exercising any undue influence, saying his role was limited to carrying out his duties as her legal representative.
selinal@sph.com.sg
This article was first published on January 13, 2017.
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