Attorney General Wong used to work closely with CEO Liew on CapitaLand’s board for more than 5 yrs

In a press release issued on Sunday (6 Sep), the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) said that it will study the judgment on Parti Liyani v PP to assess what further action to be taken, in the light of Justice Chan Seng Onn’s comments on the case (‘Attorney General’s Chambers to study judgment of Parti Liyani v PP to assess further actions‘).

Last Friday (4 Sep), Justice Chan acquitted Changi Airport Group Chairman Liew Mun Leong’s former maid, Ms Parti, of all theft-related charges filed against her.

She was arrested by the Police 4 years ago on 2 Dec 2016 and subsequently charged by AGC on 27 Aug 2017 after Liew accused her to have stolen items from his home on 30 Oct 2016.

Ms Parti was at first convicted of the four charges and sentenced to 26 months of imprisonment by District Judge Olivia Low last Mar. Ms Parti later appealed to the High Court. In acquitting Ms Parti, High Court Justice Chan concluded:

“In the above circumstances, I allow Parti’s appeal against all four charges against her. I first observe that in the present case, which involved a voluminous number of items, the proper handling of the evidence by the police and recording of the allegedly stolen items is crucial in order to preserve the chain of custody of the items. Coupled with the existence of an improper motive by members of the Liew family for mounting the allegations against Parti, I find that the convictions against Parti are unsafe and accordingly acquit her of all the charges.”

Justice Chan found that there was reason to believe that Liew family took the pre-emptive step to terminate Ms Parti’s employment suddenly and without giving her sufficient time to pack, in the hope that she would not use the time to make a complaint to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) about her illegal deployment to work for Liew’s son.

Justice Chan further found that when Ms Parti threatened to complain to MOM after her sudden termination, Liew and his son filed the police report to prevent her from returning to Singapore to lodge a complaint with the MOM. He also discounted the evidence provided by Liew’s family members on various issues.

“His (Justice Chan’s) findings do raise questions which warrant further investigations,” AGC said in its press release.

AG Lucien Wong used to work closely with Liew in CapitaLand

The AGC is currently led by Attorney-General (AG) Lucien Wong, who was PM Lee’s personal lawyer acting for PM Lee in his private dispute against his siblings over their family property. In 2017, then WP Chief Low Thia Khiang even called the government for clarification on potential conflicts of interest between PM Lee and AG, when Wong was appointed.

Before Wong became AG of Singapore, Wong was in fact also working closely with Liew when both were on the board of CapitaLand.

The CapitaLand group was created from the merger of Pidemco Land and DBS Land in 2000. It debuted on the Stock Exchange of Singapore on 21 Nov 2000.

Liew was officially appointed the President & CEO of CapitaLand group on 20 Nov 2000 while Wong joined the CapitaLand’s board on the same day.

Not only both were serving on the same CapitaLand’s board, they were both also working closely as members of the Corporate Disclosure Committee of CapitaLand’s board for more than 5 years, from end 2000 to early 2006. Wong left CapitaLand’s board on 2 Jan 2006.