The High Court here began hearing a civil suit on Monday involving the family of the late Genting Group founder Tan Sri Lin Goh Tong over an estate reportedly valued at more than RM1.6 billion.
According to a report by the New Straits Times, the case centres on the estate of the founder’s third child, the late Lim Siew Kim, who died at the age of 73 from ovarian cancer in July 2022. She is survived by three daughters and a son.
Court documents show that two of her daughters, Chan T’shiao Li, 48, and Kimberley Chan Tshiao Miin, 45, have filed the suit as plaintiffs. They contend that the dispute revolves around the validity of their mother’s will. The pair claim Siew Kim lacked the necessary legal and mental capacity to execute a valid will prior to her death from stage four ovarian cancer.
They further allege that two additional wills surfaced in 2023, aside from a will prepared by lawyer Datuk Low Beng Choo in April 2022. The earlier wills were dated 2 November 2021 and 11 April 2022, while a third will was signed on 28 April 2022. The plaintiffs argue that the execution of the final will took place within a short period under circumstances they describe as suspicious.
In their statement of claim, they assert they do not know why their mother was allegedly pressured to sign the last will hastily, adding that she was not in a suitable physical or mental condition at the time due to deteriorating health.
The daughters also claim they only discovered that Low had an interest in the estate through the Dikim Foundation, which was established by Siew Kim and her late husband, Dick Chan Teik Huat. The foundation is said to be the principal beneficiary of the will, receiving more than 70 per cent of the residual estate. They allege that the foundation’s true purpose remains unclear.
The plaintiffs are seeking a declaration that the will is invalid on grounds of alleged fraud and are asking the court to recognise them, along with their two siblings, as the lawful beneficiaries.
Under the contested will, the Dikim Foundation reportedly received property at Pearl Hill in Tanjung Bungah, Penang, as well as shareholdings and property interests in Suria Waras Development Sdn Bhd.
Siew Kim’s son, Marcus Chan, who is named as a defendant, is said to have been allocated property in Jalan Ampang, shares in Mantap Awana Sdn Bhd, the contents of all safe deposit boxes, and 30 per cent of the remaining estate.
In contrast, T’shiao Li was reportedly left RM900,000, while Kimberley received RM100,000. Another daughter, T’shiao Yunn, was allocated RM10 million and a property in Ampang Hilir, Kuala Lumpur, while her child, Jasmine, is to receive RM50,000 monthly.
In her defence, Low denied the allegations made by the plaintiffs.
Judicial Commissioner Mahazan Mat Taib has fixed 2 March for further proceedings.
