VDZ v VEA: High-Conflict Divorce, Contempt of Court, Child Custody, and Division of Matrimonial Assets
In the Family Justice Courts of Singapore, the case of VDZ v VEA involved a divorce initiated by the Wife based on the Husband's behavior. The Husband counterclaimed adultery, which was dismissed. The court addressed issues of child custody, access, division of matrimonial assets, and maintenance. The Wife was sentenced to one week's imprisonment for contempt of court for breaching court orders related to involving the children in the litigation. The court granted joint custody with care and control to the Wife, reasonable access to the Husband, and ordered the Husband to pay $2,800 monthly for the children's maintenance. No maintenance was ordered for the Wife.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
Family Justice Courts of the Republic of Singapore1.2 Outcome
Wife sentenced to one week's imprisonment for contempt of court; joint custody granted with care and control to the Wife; Husband to have reasonable access; Husband to pay monthly maintenance of $2,800 for both children; no maintenance ordered for the Wife.
1.3 Case Type
Family
1.4 Judgment Type
Grounds of Decision
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
Singapore court case involving a high-conflict divorce, contempt of court, child custody dispute, and division of matrimonial assets. The court sentenced the wife to imprisonment for contempt.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Debbie Ong | Judge | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Luna Yap Whye Tzu | Luna Yap LLC |
4. Facts
- The Wife and Husband were married on 6 June 1998 and have two children.
- The Wife commenced divorce proceedings in April 2016 based on the Husband’s behavior.
- The Husband filed a counterclaim alleging the Wife had an adulterous relationship.
- The Wife was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2016.
- A third party, R, moved into the family home and claimed he could heal the Wife.
- The DJ ordered that the Wife shall not allow any third party to reside in the matrimonial home without the prior written consent of the Husband.
- The children have had minimal contact with the Husband since March 2018.
- The Daughter posted allegations on social media accounts that the Husband had sexually abused her and her brother.
- The Wife was found liable for contempt of court in Summons No 3993 of 2018.
- The Wife received insurance payouts amounting to more than $435,000 for her medical condition, which were paid to R.
5. Formal Citations
- VDZ v VEA, Divorce (Transferred) No 1677 of 2016; Summons No 190 of 2019, [2020] SGHCF 2
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Parties married | |
| Wife commenced divorce proceedings | |
| Husband moved out of the matrimonial home | |
| DJ ordered that the Wife shall not allow any third party to reside in the matrimonial home without the prior written consent of the Husband | |
| Interim judgment of divorce granted | |
| Wife wrote a letter to the court that included graphic details about a “home mastectomy” | |
| Children have had minimal contact with the Husband since | |
| DJ ordered that R is not to stay with the children and is to leave the premises once the Husband is sighted | |
| Wife diagnosed with metastatic advanced Stage 4 breast cancer | |
| Handover was to be carried out in court | |
| Children returned to the Wife’s home after being in Gracehaven | |
| Daughter posted allegations on social media accounts that the Husband had sexually abused her and her brother | |
| Hearing regarding the source of the Daughter’s information | |
| Final judgment of divorce granted | |
| Wife sentenced to one week’s imprisonment for contempt of court | |
| Wife appointed counsel who wrote in to the court to request for further arguments | |
| Court granted a stay of execution | |
| Sentence was due to commence | |
| Hearing before the court | |
| Grounds of decision |
7. Legal Issues
- Contempt of Court
- Outcome: The court found the Wife liable for contempt of court and sentenced her to one week's imprisonment.
- Category: Substantive
- Sub-Issues:
- Breach of court orders
- Intentional disobedience of court orders
- Interference with administration of justice
- Related Cases:
- [2018] 4 SLR 828
- [2016] 3 SLR 1
- Child Custody and Access
- Outcome: The court granted joint custody to both parents, with care and control to the Wife and reasonable access to the Husband.
- Category: Substantive
- Sub-Issues:
- Parental alienation
- Best interests of the child
- Influence of third parties on children
- Division of Matrimonial Assets
- Outcome: The court determined the net value of the matrimonial asset pool and ordered an equal division between the parties.
- Category: Substantive
- Sub-Issues:
- Definition of matrimonial asset
- Inclusion of insurance payouts
- Direct and indirect contributions
- Related Cases:
- [2019] 3 SLR 504
- [2012] 2 SLR 365
- [2010] SGHC 98
- [2015] 4 SLR 1043
- Maintenance for Wife
- Outcome: The court ordered no maintenance for the Wife, considering her income from rental property and her share of the matrimonial assets.
- Category: Substantive
- Sub-Issues:
- Earning capacity
- Medical condition
- Financial needs
- Maintenance for Children
- Outcome: The court ordered the Husband to pay a monthly maintenance sum of $2,800 for both children.
- Category: Substantive
- Sub-Issues:
- Financial needs of children
- Parental responsibility
- Access to children
8. Remedies Sought
- Divorce
- Custody of children
- Maintenance for Wife
- Maintenance for children
- Division of matrimonial assets
- Order of committal
9. Cause of Actions
- Divorce
- Contempt of Court
10. Practice Areas
- Family Litigation
- Divorce
- Child Custody
- Contempt Proceedings
11. Industries
- No industries specified
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PT Sandipala Arthaputra v STMicroelectronics Asia Pacific Pte Ltd | High Court | Yes | [2018] 4 SLR 828 | Singapore | Cited for the observation that an action for civil contempt is directed at a party who is bound by an order of court but is said to have breached the terms of that order. |
| Moh Kah Hong v Zheng Zhuan Yao | High Court | Yes | [2016] 3 SLR 1 | Singapore | Cited for the applicable standard of proof to both criminal and civil contempt is that of the criminal standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. |
| UMU v UMT and another appeal | High Court | Yes | [2019] 3 SLR 504 | Singapore | Cited for the definition of a matrimonial asset in s 112(10) of the Women’s Charter. |
| Saseedaran Nair s/o Krishnan (now known as K Saseedaran Nair) v Nalini d/o K N Ramachandran | Court of Appeal | Yes | [2012] 2 SLR 365 | Singapore | Cited for the purpose of the Home Protection Insurance Scheme (HPIS) and whether the HPIS payout was a matrimonial asset. |
| Nalini d/o Ramachandran v Saseedaran Nair s/o Krishnan | High Court | Yes | [2010] SGHC 98 | Singapore | Cited for the distinction between the HPIS and an “ordinary” insurance policy. |
| ANJ v ANK | Court of Appeal | Yes | [2015] 4 SLR 1043 | Singapore | Cited for the structured approach in determining the proportions of division of matrimonial assets in a dual-income marriage. |
| AMW v AMZ | Court of Appeal | Yes | [2011] 3 SLR 955 | Singapore | Cited for the decision to backdate maintenance is within the discretion of the court. |
| TNC v TND | High Court | Yes | [2016] 3 SLR 1172 | Singapore | Assets with these two characteristics have been described as “quintessential matrimonial assets |
| TND v TNC | Court of Appeal | Yes | [2017] SGCA 34 | Singapore | Assets with these two characteristics have been described as “quintessential matrimonial assets |
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| No applicable rules |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Women’s Charter (Cap 353, 2009 Rev Ed) | Singapore |
| Central Provident Fund Act (Cap 36, 2001 Rev Ed) | Singapore |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Matrimonial assets
- Care and control
- Reasonable access
- Contempt of court
- Parental alienation
- Insurance payouts
- Home mastectomy
- Interim judgment
- Final judgment
- Social media posts
15.2 Keywords
- Divorce
- Contempt
- Custody
- Assets
- Singapore
- Family Law
17. Areas of Law
16. Subjects
- Family Law
- Divorce
- Child Custody
- Contempt of Court
- Matrimonial Assets