FA Chua J:

This appeal against the decision of the District Judge arose from a claim by the respondents (plaintiffs) for the sum of $6,194 being the alleged balance of the cost of air travel arrangements incurred by the plaintiffs on the appellants' (defendants) behalf. The defendants alleged that they had on 4 December 1984, made a payment of $6,000 to one S.M. Noordin at the request of the plaintiffs' former managing director S. Sundram, towards the settlement of monies due to the plaintiffs. As agreed between the parties, the only issue for the decision of the trial Court was whether the payment of $6,000, if made at all, was made to the plaintiffs by the defendants. The District Judge gave judgment for the plaintiffs for the said sum of $6,000 with interest and costs.

The plaintiffs are a firm of travel agents. The parties have had business dealings with each other since May 1984 and there was running account between them. Originally, a sum of $18,844 on nine invoices was due from the defendants. By April 1985 after payment of various sums by crossed cheques made payable to the plaintiffs the remaining amount due to the plaintiffs was $6,194. The plaintiffs issued rece