S'pore man forces ex-wife to sign over S$550,000 HDB flat, court rules agreement invalid

A man who attempted to force his estranged wife to sign away full ownership of their Housing Development Board (HDB) flat has had the agreement ruled invalid by the courts.

The case involved a dispute between a couple as to how to divide their S$550,000 HDB flat, reported The Straits Times.

The husband, who is a general manager at a manufacturing company, had tried to secure 100 per cent ownership of the property without paying his ex-wife a share.

Wife allegedly pressured to sign agreement

According to ST, the man confronted his wife at her workplace shortly before their divorce hearing.

He was said to have behaved aggressively, and damaged office equipment while demanding that she sign the agreement.

He believed that the agreement would enable him to walk out of the marriage with the flat.

Although the woman, an office administrator, eventually signed the document, the Family Justice Court found that it was done under pressure and without independent legal advice.

The court also ruled that the terms were heavily one-sided and unfair to the wife.

In its judgment, the court held that the agreement could not be relied upon in determining how the matrimonial assets should be divided.

Instead, the court divided the flat based on the parties’ contributions during the marriage, and awarded the woman a 41 per cent share.

Appeal dismissed by High Court

The husband later appealed the decision, arguing that the agreement signed by the two parties should be enforced.

But the High Court dismissed the appeal, with Justice Choo Han Teck upholding the lower court’s finding that the agreement was not binding in the circumstances.

The court also rejected the husband’s claims relating to alleged loans and attempts to reduce the valuation of the flat, citing insufficient documentary evidence such as bank statements and verifiable records.

The appeal was dismissed in full.

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