Wife sought bust treatment fees from estranged hubby
She reduced demands later; court awards her just $200 a month
By Khushwant Singh
A TEACHER who initially asked for $2,000 in monthly maintenance from her estranged husband, which included money for bust enhancement, will get just $200 a month.
After they separated in July last year, she had also asked for another $2,000 for their then two-month-old son, as well as two overseas vacations and a Louis Vuitton bag each year. These were all things her husband had promised in the 15 months that they were married, she said.
The couple, both 28, cannot be named under the law to protect their son.
The woman stuck to her demands for a year, but reduced them about two weeks ago because of the economic downturn.
Yesterday, she went to court asking for $1,600 for the child and $400 for herself. There was no more talk of vacations and breast enhancement treatment.
After hearing testimony from the husband and wife yesterday, District Judge Angelina Hing ordered the husband to pay $950 a month for the child's upkeep.
Cross-examined by her husband's lawyer, Mr Christopher Bridges, the woman agreed that the treatment had been fully paid for by her husband when she signed up, and that she should not be asking for that amount now.
Her lawyer, Ms Patricia Quah, told the court that the husband was a very successful property agent, earning an average of $19,300 a month from January to June this year.
But bank records he submitted to the court showed he had earned no more than $1,700 a month during this period.
The couple were married in March 2007. They honeymooned in Europe - their only foreign trip. He also bought her three Louis Vuitton items - a wallet and two bags - while they were together.
She told the court that she moved out of her in-laws' Jurong executive flat on June 27 last year as she was unable to get along with her mother-in-law.
She said her mother-in-law verbally abused her during the confinement period after the birth of her son on June 19. While she had no problems with her husband, she was unhappy that he had stood by and laughed when his mother scolded her.
Noting that the husband was fully capable of affording to maintain his wife and child, the judge ruled that he cough up the sum of $1,150 monthly from July last year.
Lawyers told The Straits Times that unusual requests, such as designer items and cosmetic surgery, were more the exception than the rule in maintenance claims. Courts also generally keep a tight lid on extravagant claims such as beauty treatments.
Said Ms Belinda Ang, a divorce lawyer for 31 years: 'If the marriage had lasted for several years and the children would go on an annual overseas vacation to visit grandparents, then the court might see that it is necessary to include this expense in the maintenance amount. But this generally does not apply to short-lived marriages.'
She reduced demands later; court awards her just $200 a month
By Khushwant Singh
A TEACHER who initially asked for $2,000 in monthly maintenance from her estranged husband, which included money for bust enhancement, will get just $200 a month.
After they separated in July last year, she had also asked for another $2,000 for their then two-month-old son, as well as two overseas vacations and a Louis Vuitton bag each year. These were all things her husband had promised in the 15 months that they were married, she said.
The couple, both 28, cannot be named under the law to protect their son.
The woman stuck to her demands for a year, but reduced them about two weeks ago because of the economic downturn.
Yesterday, she went to court asking for $1,600 for the child and $400 for herself. There was no more talk of vacations and breast enhancement treatment.
After hearing testimony from the husband and wife yesterday, District Judge Angelina Hing ordered the husband to pay $950 a month for the child's upkeep.
Cross-examined by her husband's lawyer, Mr Christopher Bridges, the woman agreed that the treatment had been fully paid for by her husband when she signed up, and that she should not be asking for that amount now.
Her lawyer, Ms Patricia Quah, told the court that the husband was a very successful property agent, earning an average of $19,300 a month from January to June this year.
But bank records he submitted to the court showed he had earned no more than $1,700 a month during this period.
The couple were married in March 2007. They honeymooned in Europe - their only foreign trip. He also bought her three Louis Vuitton items - a wallet and two bags - while they were together.
She told the court that she moved out of her in-laws' Jurong executive flat on June 27 last year as she was unable to get along with her mother-in-law.
She said her mother-in-law verbally abused her during the confinement period after the birth of her son on June 19. While she had no problems with her husband, she was unhappy that he had stood by and laughed when his mother scolded her.
Noting that the husband was fully capable of affording to maintain his wife and child, the judge ruled that he cough up the sum of $1,150 monthly from July last year.
Lawyers told The Straits Times that unusual requests, such as designer items and cosmetic surgery, were more the exception than the rule in maintenance claims. Courts also generally keep a tight lid on extravagant claims such as beauty treatments.
Said Ms Belinda Ang, a divorce lawyer for 31 years: 'If the marriage had lasted for several years and the children would go on an annual overseas vacation to visit grandparents, then the court might see that it is necessary to include this expense in the maintenance amount. But this generally does not apply to short-lived marriages.'
