SINGAPORE – An 85-year-old woman has settled her lawsuit against a slimming centre in which she sought a full refund and damages over a $400,000 weight-loss package.

In a joint statement to The Straits Times on Wednesday (Sept 21), Madam Gan Siew Hong and London Weight Management said: “We… have amicably resolved all claims and any claims and/or demands between the parties.”

Both parties “further unconditionally withdraw all allegations against each other” in the suit, said the statement, sent by Madam Gan’s lawyers from Lim & Bangras.

Madam Gan, who was diabetic and had other health conditions, was 82 years old in July 2013 when she, her husband and her son visited the Ngee Ann City branch of the slimming centre after seeing its TV commercial touting a weight-loss trial session for $18.

The family, who live in an HDB flat, eventually paid about $400,000 for weight-loss treatments and products.

In a lawsuit filed in the High Court on Aug 3 this year seeking compensation of close to $450,000, Madam Gan alleged that the treatments not only failed to improve her health, but they also caused her to suffer from diarrhoea, a skin rash and pus discharge.

She claimed that the centre repeatedly pressured her, her son and her husband into signing up for the package.

In its defence, filed on Aug 31, London denied applying pressure on the family. It said it is willing to refund Madam Gan the unused portion of the package amounting to $43,408.15 out of goodwill.

The centre said Madam Gan’s family declared only that she had diabetes and that it is not liable for injuries resulting from non-disclosure of medical history.

The centre also said it had advised her to seek medical advice on the suitability of its treatment and products and told her that successful weight loss depended on a balanced diet and regular exercise.

The lawsuit was reported by The Straits Times on Sept 7.

This article was first published on September 22, 2016.
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SINGAPORE – Was the City Harvest Church (CHC) project to evangelise through the pop music of Ms Ho Yeow Sun a church purpose, or one that CHC leaders had foisted upon the congregation?

Deputy Public Prosecutor Christopher Ong asked the High Court this on Wednesday (Sept 21) in the ongoing appeal of the six CHC leaders at the centre of a multi-million dollar financial scandal.

In October last year, the six CHC leaders were convicted of misappropriating millions in church funds to fuel the pop music career of Ms Ho, the wife of CHC senior pastor Kong Hee, in a church mission known as the Crossover Project.

The court found that they had invested $24 million from CHC’s building fund in bogus bonds from music production company Xtron and glass-maker Firna, but this money was, in fact, used to fund the Crossover Project.

Later, another $26 million was used to cover up the initial misdeed.

The six, including Kong, are appealing against their convictions and sentences, while the prosecution is also appealing – for longer sentences.

The lower court had found that the Crossover Project was “indisputably a church purpose”, but DPP Ong pointed out that it was the six CHC leaders who determined what was in the church’s interests and has silenced dissenting points of view.

“What this calls into question is whether they can really say they were pursuing CHC’s objectives or they were really pursuing a mandate that they had created and then foisted upon CHC,” said DPP Ong.

Rebutting the point made by the six that the Crossover Project was supported by the majority of church members, DPP Ong said the support for the Crossover Project must be viewed in the context of what members were told about the project.

“They were not told who would be footing the bill,” said DPP Ong.

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The Straits Times, The New Paper

He pointed out that the offenders had not shown remorse – which ordinarily could be a mitigating factor.

“Restitution amounts to saying ‘I am sorry’, and this is not something we have heard from the offenders in this case,” he said.

“What we submit is, this is not a case of altruistic individuals who nobly set out to fulfil the goals of CHC.”

The prosecution asked for much harsher sentences – jail terms of 11 to 12 years jail for Kong, CHC deputy senior pastor Tan Ye Peng, former CHC fund manager Chew Eng Han and former CHC finance manager Serina Wee; eight to nine years for former CHC finance committee member John Lam; and five to six years for former CHC finance manager Sharon Tan.

The lower court handed out much lower terms in part because it found that the six had not been motivated by personal gain, and the church had not suffered any wrongful loss.

The six were given jail terms of between 21 months and eight years, with Kong facing the longest term.

The appeal, which ended at about 5.30pm, was heard by Judge of Appeal Chao Hick Tin, and Justices Woo Bih Li and Chan Seng Onn.

“We can only promise you a judgment asap,” said Judge Chao, who added that the trial’s record was voluminous.

This article was first published on September 22, 2016.
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A 12-storey high tree that crashed through five apartments at Pearl Bank Apartments in Outram on Sept 11 had been flagged as a risk by its management council more than a year ago.

Residents had been worried that the tree, a Purple Millettia that was more than 60 years old, would end up collapsing onto the building, its management council chairman Cecilia Seet told The Straits Times.

“We warned NParks (National Parks Board) and gave them feedback last August that the tree, in particular, was very tall.

“It stood on a slope and there are strong winds in the area… so we were very concerned for the safety of residents,” she said.

While no one was hurt, some apartments suffered damage, with windows shattered, window grilles going off their hinges and bathroom fittings broken, for instance.

Tree crashes into 6 Pearl Bank Apartments

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

Shin Min Daily News, Lianhe Wanbao

In response to queries, NParks said the tree was last inspected in February by its arborists, who found it healthy and did not observe any visible signs of damage or disease.

A month earlier, the tree had also been pruned to lighten the weight of the crown.

NParks noted reports of strong winds of at least 50kmh and rain over the weekend of Sept 10 and Sept 11, which it said probably weakened the tree.

After the incident, NParks also checked the trees around Pearl Bank Apartments last Tuesday and found them to be healthy.

The annual number of fallen branches and trees under NParks’ management has dropped from more than 2,500 before 2004 to about 1,300, for the past decade or so.

An accountant living there who gave her name as Madam Seow, 48, said parts of her bedrooms and living room were damaged by the tree but is relieved that her family is safe.

NParks said it is in contact with residents whose windows were damaged during the early morning incident.

The tree that crashed was one of only two heritage Purple Millettia trees here.

NParks said all trees are inspected by staff who look out for abnormalities such as damage to the trunk, wood decaying fungi and broken branches, among other things.

If abnormalities are detected, staff will conduct a second level of inspection with equipment such as a sonic tomograph or resistograph to detect internal decay.

All trees are inspected every six to 24 months. Where necessary, crown reduction pruning is done to reduce the weight so that they can better withstand strong winds.

NParks group director of parks Chuah Hock Seong said it is not possible to eliminate the risk of tree falls, as even healthy trees can be affected by gusty winds and heavy rain.

melodyz@sph.com.sg

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A 12-storey high tree that crashed through five apartments at Pearl Bank Apartments in Outram on Sept 11 had been flagged as a risk by its management council more than a year ago.

Residents had been worried that the tree, a Purple Millettia that was more than 60 years old, would end up collapsing onto the building, its management council chairman Cecilia Seet told The Straits Times.

“We warned NParks (National Parks Board) and gave them feedback last August that the tree, in particular, was very tall.

“It stood on a slope and there are strong winds in the area… so we were very concerned for the safety of residents,” she said.

While no one was hurt, some apartments suffered damage, with windows shattered, window grilles going off their hinges and bathroom fittings broken, for instance.

Tree crashes into 6 Pearl Bank Apartments

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

Shin Min Daily News, Lianhe Wanbao

In response to queries, NParks said the tree was last inspected in February by its arborists, who found it healthy and did not observe any visible signs of damage or disease.

A month earlier, the tree had also been pruned to lighten the weight of the crown.

NParks noted reports of strong winds of at least 50kmh and rain over the weekend of Sept 10 and Sept 11, which it said probably weakened the tree.

After the incident, NParks also checked the trees around Pearl Bank Apartments last Tuesday and found them to be healthy.

The annual number of fallen branches and trees under NParks’ management has dropped from more than 2,500 before 2004 to about 1,300, for the past decade or so.

An accountant living there who gave her name as Madam Seow, 48, said parts of her bedrooms and living room were damaged by the tree but is relieved that her family is safe.

NParks said it is in contact with residents whose windows were damaged during the early morning incident.

The tree that crashed was one of only two heritage Purple Millettia trees here.

NParks said all trees are inspected by staff who look out for abnormalities such as damage to the trunk, wood decaying fungi and broken branches, among other things.

If abnormalities are detected, staff will conduct a second level of inspection with equipment such as a sonic tomograph or resistograph to detect internal decay.

All trees are inspected every six to 24 months. Where necessary, crown reduction pruning is done to reduce the weight so that they can better withstand strong winds.

NParks group director of parks Chuah Hock Seong said it is not possible to eliminate the risk of tree falls, as even healthy trees can be affected by gusty winds and heavy rain.

melodyz@sph.com.sg

Get MyPaper for more stories.

Less than 10 months after it opened to customers, Bukit Panjang Hawker Centre and Market is already in need of renovation.

The building was officially opened last month and is among 20 hawker centres being built by the Government by 2027, boasting larger stalls and better ventilation than their predecessors.

But it has been affected by rainwater splashing in and collecting.

It is now undergoing repairs.

On one side of the centre, a small section of the floor is being hacked and modified so rainwater is discharged more quickly.

Some of the louvre panels near the ceiling are also covered with plastic sheets as a temporary move to prevent rainwater from splashing in and wetting tables and chairs.

The centre was closed for two days for cleaning and renovation works from Monday.

Stalls were open as usual when The Straits Times visited yesterday, though there was some drilling.

The modification of the floor started on Monday and is expected to be completed soon.

Staff at a drinks stall near the affected area said rainwater collects during periods of heavy rain.

Carolina Maengkom, 53, who works at a nasi padang stall, said: “When it rains heavily, the water splashes in and chairs get wet.

Business has not really been affected, people will just move further inside, but it’s good that the plastic sheets have been put up.”

A spokesman for the National Environment Agency said the centre will undergo other modification works next month.

“Part of (this) includes installing a fixed panel behind the louvres to prevent rainwater from splashing into the centre, caused by the unexpected strong winds at the affected area,” she added.

“Measures to minimise rain splashing at the perimeter of the hawker centre are considered at the design stage while ensuring that the natural ventilation is not compromised as far as possible.”

NTUC Foodfare, which manages the centre, told Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao that once the modification works are completed, likely by the end of next month, the plastic sheets will be removed.

The sheets may indirectly reduce the ventilation though, as air cannot pass through the louvres when they are covered up.

Lim Chin Tiong, 31, who works at a chicken rice stall, said: “It’s a bit hotter if people sit at this area between two rows of stalls. I’m not sure if the plastic sheets worsen the issue but it’d be good if there were more fans.”

goyshiyi@sph.com.sg

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