PEMPETISYEN REBECCA CC TAI ANDERSON Wong Wee Kok

JA-33-215-05/2017 Kand. 122 28/11/2023 16:17:30 DALAM MAHKAMAH TINGGI MALAYA DI JOHOR BAHRU DALAM NEGERI JOHOR DARUL TAKZIM, MALAYSIA PETISYEN DEKLARASI PERCERAIAN NO: JA-33-215-05/2017 Dalam Perkara mengenai pembubaran perkahwinan antara REBECCA CC TAI ANDERSEN (P) dan WONG WEE KOK Dan Dalam perkara mengenai Seksyen 48(1)(a) dan Seksyen 107 Akta Memperbaharui Undang-Undang (Perkahwinan dan Perceraian) 1976 Dan Dalam perkara mengenai Kaedah 80, Kaedah-Kaedah Memperbaharui Undang- Undang (Perkahwinan dan Perceraian) ANTARA REBECCA CC TAI ANDERSEN (P) … PEMPETISYEN DAN WONG WEE KOK … RESPONDEN JUDGMENT (Broad grounds) 1 S/N rOk7soOraUWIhaiT2fEyYQ **Note : Serial number will be used to verify the originality of this document via eFILING portal The Application [1] This is the respondent husband’s application (Enc. 26) to set aside the Committal Order dated 1.7.2019 and Warrant of Arrest dated 6.4.2021 issued by this Court against the respondent husband. Both the order and warrant were issued upon the respondent husband being found guilty of contempt of court for non-payment of the child’s maintenance as per the terms in a consent Divorce Judgment entered in Singapore Court on 27.8.2012 (later recognized and accepted by this Court as its record on 10.7.2017). [2] On 18.4.2023, upon hearing counsel for both parties, this Court dismissed Enc. 26 with costs, and these are the court’s broad grounds for the said decision. Decision [3] The relevant Committal Order (see Enc. 21) reads - "(a) Bahawa Responden, Wong Wee Kok diberikan amaran yang paling tegas untuk mematuhi Penghakiman Mahkamah Singapura bertarikh 27.08.2012 dan meneruskan membuat bayaran nafkah bulanan anak- anak perkahwinan tersebut seperti terkandung da/am Penghakiman Mahkamah Singapura bertarikh 27.08.2012 tersebut; (b) Bahawa Responden, Wong Wee Kok hendaklah membayar nafkah tertunggak bagi anak-anak perkahwinan tersebut sebanyak SGD$120, 752.14 dikira setakat bulan Jun 2019 pada/atau sebelum 31.12.2019; dan (c) Bahawa kegagalan Responden, Wong Wee Kok untuk membayar nafkah tertunggak bagi anak-anak perkahwinan tersebut sebanyak SGD$120, 752.14 tersebut pada/atau sebelum 31.12.2019, Responden, Wong Wee Kok akan dikomitkan ke penjara di Kluang sehingga Responden, Wong Wee Kok menjelaskan nafkah tertunggak bagi anak- anak tersebut secara sepenuhnya." 2 S/N rOk7soOraUWIhaiT2fEyYQ **Note : Serial number will be used to verify the originality of this document via eFILING portal [4] At the outset, this Court finds that there is no ambiguity in the Committal Order which, among others, stipulates that the respondent husband has to make full payment of SGD120,752.14 being arrears for the child maintenance (as at June 2019) on or before 30.12.2019. [5] From the evidence, it is not disputed that the respondent husband had failed to make full payment of such arrears within the specified date as ordered by this Court. Instead, on 30.12.2019, being the last date given, the respondent husband only paid a sum of SGD65,000.00, hence leaving an outstanding balance of SGD55,752.14 for the said arrears. [6] In this regard, this Court agrees with the petitioner wife’s submission that such payment was outrightly not in accordance with the order by this Court as per the Committal Order, hence a clear in defiance of the said order on part of the respondent husband. [7] Next, although there were sporadic payments made by the respondent husband after 30.12.2019 in relation to the child maintenance, this Court further agrees with the petitioner wife’s submission that such payments cannot be taken to account for the arrears since the Committal Order also imposes specific obligation to the respondent husband to make continuous monthly payments for the child maintenance as decreed in the Divorce Judgment, i.e. SGD3,300.00 per month (please see the Divorce Judgment in Enc. 21). [8] Thus on a proper reading of the Committal Order, this Court has to reject the respondent husband’s contention that when he made payment of SGD41,872.14 on 16.12.2021 purportedly as full 3 S/N rOk7soOraUWIhaiT2fEyYQ **Note : Serial number will be used to verify the originality of this document via eFILING portal settlement for the arrears of the child maintenance, the respondent husband had actually purged the contempt and therefore ought to be released from the arrest warrant. [9] This Court is firmly of the view that the terms in the Committal Order must not be read in isolation so as to give the Committal Order its rightful effect. To hold otherwise as suggested by the respondent husband, would make no meaning on the duty imposes against the respondent husband to pay monthly maintenance for the children as agreed in the Divorce Judgment. Worst still, it may even be a mockery to the Committal Order and the Divorce Judgment if the respondent husband is allowed to make payment for the child maintenance according to his own phase or choice of amount as evidenced from the respondent husband’s past payments as tabulated in Enc. 85 (not disputed by the respondent husband). Conclusion [10] Based on the above grounds, being essentially a straight forward case, Enc. 26 is dismissed with costs. Dated: 27 th November 2023 …………………………………………. (NOOR HISHAM BIN ISMAIL) Judicial Commissioner High Court, Johor Bahru 4 S/N rOk7soOraUWIhaiT2fEyYQ **Note : Serial number will be used to verify the originality of this document via eFILING portal Counsels for Petitioner Ms Michele Kaur together with Mr Tee Yee Man Messrs Sun & Michele Kuala Lumpur Counsels for Respondent Mr Selvam Shanmugam together with Ms M. Selvamary Messrs Selvam Shanmugam & Partners Kuala Lumpur 5 S/N rOk7soOraUWIhaiT2fEyYQ **Note : Serial number will be used to verify the originality of this document via eFILING portal