27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
Malaysian tycoon ordered to pay ex-wife RM10.5mil in divorce settlement
KUALA LUMPUR: A woman has been awarded more than RM10.5 million in one of the most high-profile divorce settlements in recent years.
High Court Judge Evrol Mariette Peters handed down the decision on May 25 in favour of the petitioner, referred to as Chan, against her tycoon former husband, identified as Shan.
In her 167-page grounds of judgment, Peters said the marriage had "started off glamorous and exciting, filled with luxury and adventure," but later deteriorated into accusations of infidelity and emotional estrangement.
She said while the couple projected an image of success and elegance, the court found that their marriage had long since crumbled beneath the surface.
"What once seemed like a perfect love story slowly started falling apart, revealing deeper issues.
"Arguments grew, with accusations of cheating, jealousy, and mistrust.
"The pressure from society and constant scrutiny only made things worse, eventually leading to the marriage's messy breakdown," she said.
Peters said that despite the breakdown, the court observed that the petitioner chose to remain in her two-decade-long marriage for many years before finally seeking a divorce.
However, the judge found that her reasons were not rooted in emotional reconciliation.
"It became apparent that the petitioner's decision was driven less by love or hope for reconciliation, and more by a desire to maintain the social standing and privileges associated with her role as the respondent's wife," she said.
She said photographic evidence submitted to the court showed Chan alongside international celebrities, including designer Michael Kors, actress Kate Hudson, and members of the Kardashian family, as well as attending elite gatherings like the Cannes Film Festival.
"These glimpses into her public life suggested that the petitioner valued the status and lifestyle afforded by her marriage more than the relationship itself.
"The petitioner's insistence on maintaining the marriage, despite its evident breakdown, appeared to be driven more by a desire to preserve certain external benefits than by any sincere intention to reconcile or restore the marital relationship," said Peters.
Chan had also sought damages from two women she accused of having extramarital affairs with her husband.
However, Peters ruled that there was insufficient evidence to meet the legal burden under Section 58(3) of the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976.
"Suspicion, no matter how strong, is not a substitute for proof," Peters said, adding that the petitioner failed to prove adultery on a balance of probabilities as required under the law.
The court also rejected the admissibility of a secretly recorded reconciliation meeting during which Chan claimed her husband admitted to infidelity.
"Admitting the audio recording and its transcript as evidence would discourage parties in matrimonial disputes from engaging in honest discussions aimed at settlement."
The court ordered the Shan to pay Chan a lump sum of RM6.72 million in spousal maintenance, calculated at RM35,000 per month over 16 years.
Peters also awarded:
RM1.04 million for her contributions to Shan business (known in court as ALIR),
RM450,000 from Shan's EPF account, and
RM350,000 to purchase a replacement vehicle.
The total RM10.56 million is to be paid in staggered instalments, concluding in December 2027.
The lengthy trial, which stretched over 80 days, featured 26 witnesses and over 16,000 documents.
