Court Cases
Workers’ Party town councillors settle long-running lawsuits with AHTC and SKTC
Workers’ Party town councillors have settled their long-standing lawsuits with Aljunied-Hougang and Sengkang Town Councils. The mediation concluded with all parties dropping claims for damages and costs. This marks the end of disputes over alleged misuse of S$33.7 million in town council funds.
In a significant development, the Workers’ Party town councillors have announced the conclusion of their long-standing legal battles with Aljunied-Hougang Town Council (AHTC) and Sengkang Town Council (SKTC). The parties have reached a settlement following mediation at the Singapore International Mediation Centre.
The disputes revolved around the alleged misuse of S$33.7 million (US$25.3 million) paid to FM Solutions & Services Pte Ltd (FMSS) and FM Solutions & Integrated Services (FMSI).
The lawsuits implicated prominent Workers’ Party figures, including Ms Sylvia Lim, Mr Low Thia Khiang, and Mr Pritam Singh, along with Mr Chua Zhi Hon and Mr Kenneth Foo.
Settlement Reached on a Drop Hands Basis
In a joint statement, the town councillors announced that the parties involved had agreed to settle the lawsuits on a drop hands basis. This means that AHTC and SKTC will drop their claims for damages and costs against the town councillors, who, in turn, will drop their claims for costs against the town councils.
Background of the Lawsuits
The legal saga began with accusations of financial mismanagement and misuse of public funds by the Workers’ Party-run town councils since it took over Aljunied Town Council in 2011 and, subsequently, Punggol-East SMC in 2013.
These suits, initiated by an independent panel in July 2017, targeted eight defendants, including the Workers’ Party leaders and their former managing agent FMSS, along with four other former town councillors or employees — saying they had breached their fiduciary duties.
Despite being held liable for damages in the High Court in 2019, the town councillors largely succeeded in their appeal. The lawsuits led to AHTC and SKTC being ordered to pay approximately S$388,800 (US$292,000) in costs and disbursements for the appeals.
The breakdown of the S$388,800 in costs reveals that AHTC was required to pay S$176,241.11 for two appeals, while SKTC had to pay S$212,543.52 for three appeals.
Court of Appeal’s Rulings
In a comprehensive 38-page judgment issued on 29 November last year, the Court of Appeal elucidated the reasons behind mandating the payment of costs by the two councils.
The court clarified that costs are typically granted to the prevailing party. In this instance, the town councillors and employees achieved substantial success in their appeals, effectively overturning multiple findings by the trial judge.
The five-judge panel, including Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, Justice Judith Prakash, Justice Tay Yong Kwang, Judge of the Appellate Division Woo Bih Li, and Senior Judge Andrew Phang, noted that SKTC experienced greater success in the appeals compared to AHTC.
The judgment provided vindication for the Workers’ Party and its senior members from the various allegations made against them, including those from the People’s Action Party.
The court ruled that the town councillors and employees did not owe fiduciary duties to AHTC or SKTC and had acted in good faith when awarding the contracts.
The settlement marks the end of a prolonged and high-profile legal battle that has seen significant legal and financial scrutiny of the Workers’ Party and its management of town council funds.
With the conclusion of these lawsuits, the town councillors and the Workers’ Party can now move forward from this chapter, focusing on their duties and responsibilities to their constituencies.
Notice to Our Readers: Moving Back to The Online Citizen
Construction worker dies in Changi worksite accident; Driver arrested
Consumers Association of Singapore fined S$20,000 for PDPA breaches following two data security incidents
Singapore’s Yip Pin Xiu secures historic three-peat at Paris Paralympics
Jamus Lim on Minister Chee Hong Tat’s remarks on fiscal policy: Calls for genuine debate over rhetoric
Philippine migrant group in SG hosts successful blood donation drive
China’s ex-convict jailed six years in Singapore for S$6.7M crypto scam
Chee Hong Tat’s call for fiscal prudence rings hollow amid contradictory government spending
UN food agency halts operations in Gaza after vehicle shot by Israeli forces
KL City Hall cancels National Day event following sinkhole incident
Swiss court convicts 2 executives for embezzling S$1.8 billion from 1MDB
Tan Suee Chieh: Sacrificing NTUC Income’s values for short-term gains undermines its foundation
-
Politics1 week agoJamus Lim on Minister Chee Hong Tat’s remarks on fiscal policy: Calls for genuine debate over rhetoric
-
Opinion2 weeks agoLawrence Wong must face MPs in Parliament, not hide behind compliant media
-
Politics2 weeks agoSM Lee: Singaporeans must ‘change attitudes’ as Govt promises ‘bold and necessary changes’
-
Community1 week agoToast Box faces backlash and boycott calls amid price increases
-
Media6 days agoNotice to Our Readers: Moving Back to The Online Citizen
-
Singapore1 week agoSingapore introduces new scheme in April 2025 offering up to S$6,000 in financial support for retrenched workers
-
Politics1 week agoJamus Lim raises concerns over high cost of living and its impact on Singaporeans’ sense of belonging
-
Singapore1 week agoTan Suee Chieh: Sacrificing NTUC Income’s values for short-term gains undermines its foundation
So The Fix was Actually Not Taking Place.
Pinky got No Cock, can cut and throw to Dog.
Hahahaha.
Who reaps the MOST out of these court attendances, hearings?
I guess Judges, clerks, Police Officers, PAP Advocators, Antagonisers appointed by PAP against any Politicians, citizens Obstructing their Hegemony, esp WP the PAP’s most hated enemies.
Who are loosers, presumably – SuckerPoreans, Govt Services to the People of SG eminently.
I wonder, upon appeal the judges had ruled in favour of the plaintiffs, AHTC & STC,
how would the public respond…??
Protests on the streets..??
Demonstrations..??
Even without inciting the public?
Life would have gone on.. voters will still vote for PAP??
PAP is FREE at Will to Steal and Rob Singapore’s State Reserves Millions To Spend on their OWN BENEFITS but when asked to account why BULLY Senior Citizens to CRAMP with total strangers in small apartments with join facilities uses, they claimed NOT Enough Land, forests NEEDED even to be cleared for FUTURE UNBORN.
When the ENDLESS TFR solutions FAILED, FAILED, and STILL FAIL, what Future UNBORN LIES these bastards say out loud?
Why Create so many groups … Of cos to protect the CORE and oso they have the money to create with their million dollar salaries?!? If they dun have such high salaries, they won’t be able to create so many groups. No?!?
The SG Constitution Protects the PAP Administration INSTEAD of the Sovereignty of SG and its People.
Shd the time come if any Opposition become the Incumbent Administration, I TRULY WONDER what is the SG Constitution for – to still protect the PAP Party as Opposition??
Yet year after year, the AGC always finds mismanagement of public funds by the gov. and pappies organizations. Aren’t the respective million$ ministers, their MOS and PerSec failing in their fiduciary duties then? Remember the monies are taxpayers’ monies, not the pap’s fund, not the ministries’ funds, not the authorities grandmother’s monies.
Recap:
Back in 2017 Aljunied–Hougang Town Council appointed an independent panel of three lawyers at the behest of MND and HDB.
Remember, this is how the game can be played. Whoever takes over the power of this nation can use this method to game your political opponents.
Cost for the nation? Obviously isn’t it?
Wasn’t there costs to the State? Whose paying for it? Bullying of the Opposition and Citizens must stop by the ruling party.
“When you point a finger at somebody, theres 3 more pointing back at you..”–famous quote.
They ran WP thro the grinder with those charges ….for few years!
But recently the AG found a multitude of serious “lapses” in several (PAP ) ministries..amounting to huge amount of financial losses..
Why no one taken to task and charged???
Congratulations to the Workers’ Party team!
Now with the distraction out of the way, the WP should be energised for the forthcoming battle.
PAP style… make everything as convoluted as possible… twine and twirl strings round and round the problem till it appears impossible to untwine .
The purpose..??
To confuse, confound and obscure and the voter takes the simple route out by ignoring.
With SPH coming out with “explanations” from “experts”.. who undoubtedly will paint a glowing.
upright picture of the PAP’s whiteness.
This time, thankfully, the High Court judges ruled in favour of the opposition.
Sometimes, there are lies that just cannot be covered.
The “independent” panel should bear costs for pursuing this.
Hurrah for Worker’s Party.. !!
So now we have two Sides mismanaging … So dun need to vote. 黑比黑，还是黑。
Like it or not. The TRUTH is PAP is the DEVIL – master instigator, master perpetrator, master resources and time waster in this whole episode of NOTHINGbyo BEGIN with.
Look here ALL CITIZENS – this PAP DO NOT KNOW HOW TO RAISE LABOUR productivity at ALL in SG. This SETTLEMENT has ALL the Hallmarks of PAP Administration ATTEMPTING to DESTROY voters CHOICE of Preference to VOTE for WP, failed.
Only way now going forward, is for balls to be found and vote to send a strong signal. To end bullying
The PAP Administration SO FOND of chasing its own tail with STATE Reserves MISUSAGE. Throw the WHOLE Lot of PAP out for good SG would certainly have BETTER LIVES AND Strive to Foucs more on Nation Building instead of PAP Administration LOVE to build SG as a resilient society WHEN what the PAP hate MOST is a SG Nationalism No? Really? For u and INCLUSIVENESS is only a PAP FAKE to WASH Singaporean brains. When there is TRUE NATIONALISM, EVERY SGpn would have had FXXK the Defense Minister Hen FOR NEGLIGENCE twds allowing PRC to DETAIN our SAF Vehicles AT… Read more »
It’s kinda prove as in many past instances, time and again, the VICIOUSNESS of PAP Administration by hook or crook, judicial or not, MIS USE of political powers, MIS USE of Mandate, which basically is a Social Mandate, and, esp MIS USE of Governmental Services which TECHNICALLY is to RENDER to the State of SG and it’s people, State services
apolitically – universally it’s called Bipartisan.
This PAP Administration IS AN UTTER DISGRACE and CRUEL in ITS TREATMENT to the people of SG EXTRACTING from tax payers and State Funds to reward themselves Million Dollars Pay Checks.
Government should relocate resources on the long list of discrepancies in various agencies found by AGO recently and each and every year for as long as we can remember.
But Opps! Aren’t they going to shoot their own feet if they were to comb through all those discrepancies?
So verdict?!? Mismanaged or not?!? If mismanaged Why still around to manage the constituency?!?
As usual they are part of the three bodies ….. No?!?
Given that AHTC and SKTC had to pay cost to the defendants, are these monies coming out of AHTV and SKTC’s account? These accounts are incidentally managed by the defendants, directly or indirectly. Or perhaps the cost should be paid by the independent panel?
Will we ever know now that both sides have struck a deal?