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Legal Aid Bureau

Notable Cases (66th LAB Anniversary Newsletter)

Explore landmark cases from the 1960s to today, showing how the Bureau has helped everyday people secure their legal rights across decades.

Last updated on 30 September 2026

1960s: Hoo Yan Meng v Esah [1969] SGHC 13

The Bureau helped the daughter of a deceased statutory tenant from being evicted from rent-controlled premises. The High Court judgment clarified the rights of such tenants under s 16(c) of the then-Control of Rent Ordinance (Cap 242, 1955 Rev Ed).

Hoo Yan Meng v Esah [1969] SGHC 13 (opens in new tab)

1970s: Tan Evelyn v Tan Lim Tai [1973] SGHC 19

The Bureau helped a “simple, thrifty, homely and uncomplaining kind of wife” claim her fair share of the matrimonial home which had been purchased in her husband’s sole name – and which she had helped to pay for, by entrusting her whole pay packet to him for years.

Tan Evelyn v Tan Lim Tai [1973] SGHC 19 (opens in new tab)

1980s: Ng Weng Cheong v Soh Oh Loo and another [1993] SGCA 22

The Bureau helped a carpenter obtain some compensation after being hit by a bus – even though he had been jaywalking. The court ordered the bus driver to bear 30% of the liability – the first time a jaywalker got compensation in such circumstances.

Ng Weng Cheong v Soh Oh Loo and another [1993] SGCA 22 (opens in new tab)

1990s: Salijah bte Ab Latef v Mohd Irwan Abdullah [1996] 1 SLR 63

The Bureau helped a wife who divorced in the Syariah Court get a court order for her missing husband to sign documents transferring his share in the matrimonial home to her, as ordered by the Syariah Court. The Administration of Muslim Law Act was amended after this case, to allow the Registrar of the Syariah Court to execute such documents on behalf of defaulting parties.

Salijah bte Ab Latef v Mohd Irwan Abdullah [1996] 1 SLR 63 (opens in new tab)

2000s: Ong Tean Hoe v Hong Kong Industrial Company Pte Ltd [2001] SGHC 303

The Bureau helped an industrial machine operator, whose hands were crushed by a machine at work, to claim compensation (over $700,000) from her employer.

Ong Tean Hoe v Hong Kong Industrial Company Pte Ltd [2001] SGHC 303 (opens in new tab)

2010s: Chan Tin Sun v Fang Quay Sim [2015]

The Bureau helped a wife who poisoned her husband (and went to prison for it) to get some share of the matrimonial assets. She got 7% less than she otherwise would have because she poisoned him - but she had contributed to the family over more than 30 years of marriage and did not deserve to get nothing.

Chan Tin Sun v Fang Quay Sim [2015] (opens in new tab)

2020s: Dai Yi Ting v Chuang Fu Yuan [2022] SGHC 253

The Bureau helped an e-scooter rider who was sued by his pillion rider for compensation after an accident. This was a precedent judgment on the issue of whether to have liability and damages heard separately or together.

Dai Yi Ting v Chuang Fu Yuan [2022] SGHC 253 (opens in new tab)