TEE AH SING J:

On 9 September 1998, Chieng Soh Geok (‘the first plaintiff’), Chieng Soh Eng (‘the second plaintiff’), Chieng Soh Hua (‘the third plaintiff’), Chieng Soh Choo (‘the fourth plaintiff’), Chieng Soh Hee (‘thefifth plaintiff’), Chieng Soh Hie (‘the sixth plaintiff’), Chieng Suk Mui (‘the seventh plaintiff’) and Chieng Sing Ming (‘the eighth plaintiff’) (collectively referred to as ‘the plaintiffs’) filed a civil suit againstChieng Sing Huat (‘the defendant’).

The relevant parts of the statement of claim reads as follows:

(1) At all material times the plaintiffs are and were the surviving eldest son and daughters,heirs and beneficiaries of the estate of Chew Geok King (deceased) (hereinafter referred to as the ‘deceased’) who passed away intestate on 31 May 1992.

(2) The defendant is and was at all material times the surviving younger son,heir and beneficiary of the estate of the deceased and the brother of the plaintiffs.

(3) At the time of death of the deceased, the plaintiffs and defendant had attained the age of majority and entitled to take under the estate.

(4) At all material times the deceased owned the following properties (‘the estate’).

Particulars

(a) One-half (1/2) u