Updated: 08/20/2013 17:25 | By Channel NewsAsia
Hearing for lawsuit filed by businessman against Buddhist monk begins
SINGAPORE: The hearing into a lawsuit filed by a businessman against a Buddhist monk began in the High Court on Tuesday.
Businessman Chua Kwee Sin claims that he passed a sum of almost S$1.4 million in 2009 to Venerable Sek Meow Di to jointly invest in the opening of a casino in Cambodia.
Mr Chua said Venerable Sek did not proceed to open the casino according to the agreement they made. He said that he made various attempts to recover the money that he gave to Venerable Sek but has yet to receive a single cent.
According to Mr Chua's opening statement, he came to know Venerable Sek after consulting him at a temple in Geylang. Mr Chua wanted to venture into the oil business but Venerable Sek said going into the casino business would be a "safer option".
Mr Chua said that Venerable Sek also assured him that his "men" would run the casino.
Venerable Sek however, presented a completely different picture. He maintains that his only role was to introduce investors that included Mr Chua to a third party -- Mr Tan Kheng Tiong.
Mr Tan was then the CEO of Golden Empire Group, which engages in live casino and gaming operations in Cambodia and Vietnam.
As a monk, Venerable Sek said he has no interest in business -- be it oil or casinos.
Venerable Sek also maintains that Mr Chua's investments were acknowledged by Mr Tan in the form of two receipts. Mr Chua has denied handing any money to Mr Tan.
Mr Tan has also said that he did not receive the money, and that the casino business was strictly between Mr Chua and Venerable Sek. He added that he was only acting as a "manager" as requested by Venerable Sek, and had prepared the receipts on the instructions of Venerable Sek.
Venerable Sek is also seeking a declaration from the court that a letter of demand sent by Mr Chua's lawyers to the Buddhist temple and association he belongs to is defamatory.
The hearing will run till the end of the week. - CNA/ac
