Woman who previously tried to bankrupt ministers accused of forging court, AGC documents
SINGAPORE — A woman who previously sought to bankrupt nine Cabinet ministers claimed trial on Wednesday (9 September) to charges of forging five official documents from the Supreme Court and the Attorney-General’s Chambers in order to obtain financial compensation.
Tham Yim Siong, 47, was previously labelled a “vexatious litigant” under the Supreme Court of Judicature Act. She was barred from starting or continuing legal proceedings without the High Court's permission.
Tham and her parents had attempted to hold nine ministers liable in 2016 for alleged misconduct and breaches but their suit was dismissed. They then filed a string of applications afterward.
For her present State Courts case, Tham is accused of forging three documents which purport to be Originating Summonses – a mode of commencing a civil suit – issued by the then-Registrar of the Supreme Court Vincent Hoong, a fraudulent press release purportedly issued by the media and communications unit of the Attorney-General’s Chambers, and a document purporting to be an Order for Consolidation – an order for actions to be combined or tried together – issued by the then-Registrar of the Supreme Court Vincent Hoong.
The documents were supposedly forged between 15 March 2017 and 9 August 2018.
Mental health issue
Tham has been assessed by the Institute of Mental Health to be suffering from delusional disorder, without insight into her own condition, according to the prosecution. However, she has been assessed to be of sound mind and capable of making her defence. She is representing herself for her case.
Opening its case, the prosecution said that Tham had sent the fake Originating Summonses and Order for Consolidation to various persons, including ministers and public servants via emails dated 15 March 2017, 28 January 2018, 6 February 2018 and 9 August 2018.
She posted the sham AGC press release on her Facebook page.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Ryan Lim argued that Tham had made the false Originating Summonses and Order for Consolidation intending to obtain financial compensation.
With the fake AGC press release, Tham sought to cause injury to a Ch’ng Lye Beng, said the DPP.
He added, “The accused created the false documents by modifying genuine documents on a computer, and intended to deceive others into believing that the false documents were genuine.”
The prosecution said it will be relying on oral and documentary evidence, including four statements recorded from Tham.
The DPP will also be calling the IMH psychiatrist and admitting his three reports on Tham.
The trial continues on Wednesday with the cross-examination of an Investigating Officer.
If convicted on forging a document purporting to be a record of a court of justice or a register kept by a public servant, Tham may be jailed up to 10 years and fined.
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