Woman to take mental test
She challenged bank's call to assess her ability to handle $8.9m account
By Selina Lum
A 92-YEAR-OLD woman who sued OCBC Bank for freezing her $8.9 million account has been ordered by the High Court to undergo an independent psychiatric test.
Madam Hwang Cheng Tsu Hsu took OCBC to court after it refused to let her touch the money, on the grounds that it had doubts about her mental capacity.
Last month, a lower court granted OCBC's application for Madam Hwang to be examined by an independent psychiatrist to evaluate whether she was mentally fit to handle her finances.
Madam Hwang then challenged OCBC's move and appealed against the decision, as well as an earlier decision rejecting her request for summary judgment - asking the court to decide without a full trial.
On Tuesday, Justice Tan Lee Meng dismissed her appeal on the summary judgment issue. Her lawyer Andrew Ee then withdrew the appeal against the issue of appointing a psychiatrist.
At the hearing, OCBC's lawyer questioned if Madam Hwang was the one driving the lawsuit.
Why is she vigorously resisting being examined by a court-appointed expert if she is indeed mentally fit to handle her financial affairs, asked Mr Adrian Wong.
'This makes no sense unless the plaintiff (or the true engine behind the suit) is afraid that she will fail a re-examination.'
Madam Hwang's lawyer had pointed out that she had already been found mentally fit by a psychiatrist and a psychologist.
A separate application by Madam Hwang, asking the bank to release $18,000 a month as household expenses, will be heard at a later date.
The sum includes $3,600 for her adopted daughter, who is her caregiver and only child; $1,000 for toiletries; and $3,000 for holidays and entertainment.
The impasse between Madam Hwang and OCBC began in May when she and her daughter, Madam Amy Hsu Ann Mei, 43, went to the bank to ask about opening a joint account. The bank refused.
The women visited OCBC again in May to close Madam Hwang's account. This was also denied.
OCBC later said it had doubts about Madam Hwang's mental capacity.
The bank said it was acting prudently and refused to accept any instructions on any of Madam Hwang's accounts until she was shown to be mentally fit.
She proceeded to sue OCBC to have her locked funds returned.
Please har all you laucheow, pls spend all your money and withdraw your money before you become senile and mentally incapable....very soon your cpf funds also cannot withdraw unless you have a medical certificate of mental soundness!!! wtf is going on here!!! i mad or not mad, it's still my money...who are u to tell me i'm mad and that i'm incapable of making the decisions...if i like i withdraw the cash and give and distribute to everyone..or even burn the money....what's wrong??? got such case or not???
She challenged bank's call to assess her ability to handle $8.9m account
By Selina Lum
A 92-YEAR-OLD woman who sued OCBC Bank for freezing her $8.9 million account has been ordered by the High Court to undergo an independent psychiatric test.
Madam Hwang Cheng Tsu Hsu took OCBC to court after it refused to let her touch the money, on the grounds that it had doubts about her mental capacity.
Last month, a lower court granted OCBC's application for Madam Hwang to be examined by an independent psychiatrist to evaluate whether she was mentally fit to handle her finances.
Madam Hwang then challenged OCBC's move and appealed against the decision, as well as an earlier decision rejecting her request for summary judgment - asking the court to decide without a full trial.
On Tuesday, Justice Tan Lee Meng dismissed her appeal on the summary judgment issue. Her lawyer Andrew Ee then withdrew the appeal against the issue of appointing a psychiatrist.
At the hearing, OCBC's lawyer questioned if Madam Hwang was the one driving the lawsuit.
Why is she vigorously resisting being examined by a court-appointed expert if she is indeed mentally fit to handle her financial affairs, asked Mr Adrian Wong.
'This makes no sense unless the plaintiff (or the true engine behind the suit) is afraid that she will fail a re-examination.'
Madam Hwang's lawyer had pointed out that she had already been found mentally fit by a psychiatrist and a psychologist.
A separate application by Madam Hwang, asking the bank to release $18,000 a month as household expenses, will be heard at a later date.
The sum includes $3,600 for her adopted daughter, who is her caregiver and only child; $1,000 for toiletries; and $3,000 for holidays and entertainment.
The impasse between Madam Hwang and OCBC began in May when she and her daughter, Madam Amy Hsu Ann Mei, 43, went to the bank to ask about opening a joint account. The bank refused.
The women visited OCBC again in May to close Madam Hwang's account. This was also denied.
OCBC later said it had doubts about Madam Hwang's mental capacity.
The bank said it was acting prudently and refused to accept any instructions on any of Madam Hwang's accounts until she was shown to be mentally fit.
She proceeded to sue OCBC to have her locked funds returned.
Please har all you laucheow, pls spend all your money and withdraw your money before you become senile and mentally incapable....very soon your cpf funds also cannot withdraw unless you have a medical certificate of mental soundness!!! wtf is going on here!!! i mad or not mad, it's still my money...who are u to tell me i'm mad and that i'm incapable of making the decisions...if i like i withdraw the cash and give and distribute to everyone..or even burn the money....what's wrong??? got such case or not???
