JUDGMENT

Edgar Joseph Jr J:

According to the plaintiff, Mr. Goh Hooi Yin, in July 1973, he was a customer of the First National City Bank (Penang branch), the third defendant, and so it was known to Mr. Lim Teong Ghee, the first defendant and Mr. Kung Beng Hong, the second defendant, they being the assistant manager and senior assistant manager, respectively of the third defendant, that he had recently sold his interest in a partnership business and thus had money available for investment.

Sometime in or about the first week of July 1973, at the premises of the third defendant, the first defendant suggested that the plaintiff might wish to purchase certain premises known as 53, King Street, Penang, ("the disputed property") from Weng Lye Development Sdn. Bhd., the fourth defendant, also a customer of the third defendant, whose overdraft had exceeded its limit. The first defendant added that it would be helpful to the third defendant if such a sale were to take place as it would reduce the fourth defendant's overdraft and promised to use his good offices with the fourth defendant to put through the sale to the plaintiff at a price advantageous to the plaintiff.

The plaintiff was att