Ex-MP Chiang Hai Ding and son sued by son's former wife

She says shophouse was bought on behalf of couple and should be a matrimonial asset

- Selina Lum

Former MP and retired ambassador Chiang Hai Ding is being sued by his former daughter-in-law over the ownership of a pre-war shophouse in the Balestier conservation area that is estimated to be worth between $3 million and $4 million.

The Martaban Road shophouse was bought in December 2009 for $2.1 million and registered in Dr Chiang's name. He contributed $300,000 towards the down payment, while his son Joon Arn paid $520,000 and took out a $1.28 million mortgage loan.

Ms Sabrina Tan, who married Mr Chiang Joon Arn in December 2011 and filed for divorce in October 2020, contended in her lawsuit against father and son that the shophouse should be considered a matrimonial asset because Dr Chiang had bought the property on behalf of the couple.

She alleged that the property was bought in Dr Chiang's name only because the couple could not buy a private property in their own names during the minimum occupancy period (MOP) of five years from the date they had collected the keys of their Housing Board unit at Pinnacle @ Duxton.

Ms Tan, 53, is seeking a court declaration that Dr Chiang, 85, holds the shophouse on trust for her and Mr Chiang, 50, who are the true beneficial owners of the property.

Father and son disagree with her, and assert that Dr Chiang is the sole legal and beneficial owner of the shophouse.