In what is considered to be the longest and most high-profile divorce proceeding in Malaysian history, a local tycoon was ordered by the KL High Court to pay a whopping RM10.5 million to his former wife.
According to NST, the entire trial lasted more than 80 days and saw a total of 26 witnesses and over 16,000 documents being featured.
Was good till it wasn’t
In a lengthy 167-page grounds of judgment, Judge Evrol Mariette Peters wrote the marriage between the petitioner, referred to as Chan, and her tycoon former husband, identified as Shan, was one of luxury, glamour, and adventure.
As time passed however, their relationship began to disintegrate as both parties started accusing the other of infidelity and being emotionally distant.
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,” wrote Peters.
Despite the deterioration of the marriage, Chan still chose to remain in the 20-year long union before finally calling it quits.
Driven by need to maintain public image
Peters also said that the reason Chan chose to remain married to Shan wasn’t because she wanted to reconcile with him, but due to her desire to “maintain the social standing and privileges” she enjoyed by being his wife.
These privileges included her posing for photos with A-list celebrities such as designer Michael Kors, actress Kate Hudson, the Kardashian family, as well as attending prestigious events like the Cannes Film Festival.
“These glimpses into her public life suggested that the petitioner (Chan) valued the status and lifestyle afforded by her marriage more than the relationship itself,” she noted.
Court orders M’sian tycoon to pay ex-wife RM10.5mil
The judgement also revealed that Chan had sought damages from two women she claimed had extramarital affairs with Shan.
However, Peters ruled Chan had failed to provide sufficient evidence to meet the legal burden under Section 58(3) of the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976, adding that “suspicion, no matter how strong, is not a substitute for proof.”
The court also dismissed the admissibility of a secretly recorded reconciliation meeting during which Chan claimed her husband admitted to cheating on her.
In the end, Shan was ordered to pay Chan a lump sum of RM6.72 million in spousal maintenance, which was calculated at RM35,000 per month over 16 years.
On top of that, the court also awarded Chan the following:
- RM2 million for Chan’s share of the matrimonial home and household effects
- RM1.04 million for her contributions to Shan’s business (known in court as ALIR)
- RM450,000Â from Shan’s EPF account
- RM350,000Â to purchase a replacement vehicle
The total amount, which came to RM10.56 million, is to be paid in staggered instalments before concluding in December 2027.
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