Estate of man killed by father-in-law fails to get back luxury watch

High Court dismisses appeal by estate administrators, who sued victim's parents

- Selina Lum

The estate of businessman Spencer Tuppani, who was fatally stabbed by his father-in-law in 2017, has failed in an appeal to recover a luxury watch he was wearing when he was killed in Boon Tat Street.

His widow, Ms Shyller Tan Cheng Cheng, together with the two other administrators of his estate, had sued his parents to get them to hand over the Richard Mille watch, or alternatively, a sum of $389,205.13.

The other two administrators are Ms Tan’s sister, Ms Sherry Tan San San, and Mr Tuppani’s first wife, Ms Felicia Keh Lay Hong.

The exact model of the missing watch is disputed.

The blood-stained timepiece was among Mr Tuppani’s belongings collected after his death by his father, Mr Shamlal Tuppani Bisaysar.

Mr Shamlal Tuppani said he left the watch at the Leedon Residence flat where his son lived with his mistress, Ms Joan Yeo.

The estate administrators alleged that Ms Yeo handed the watch to Mr Tuppani’s mother, Madam Tham Poh Kwai. They also alleged that Madam Tham sold the watch and pocketed the proceeds.

But Madam Tham denied ever receiving a watch.

Mr Shamlal Tuppani and Madam Tham – who are divorced – were sued for conversion of the watch.

Ms Yeo, who has two children with Mr Spencer Tuppani, was not sued despite her alleged role.

Conversion is a civil wrongdoing that occurs when an unauthorised person takes the possessions of another person and deals with the goods in a way that interferes with the rights of the possessor.

The administrators had appealed to the High Court after their lawsuit was dismissed by a district judge in December 2023.