World · Singapore Bureau
Woman's refusal to return mistaken $6,650 transfer costs her dearly
A Singapore court has found a woman's conduct "highly unreasonable" after she refused to return money her ex-husband accidentally transferred to her, ultimately ruling she must pay over $7,000 in legal costs.
LSN Singapore ·
The woman received $6,650 from her ex-husband due to a banking error, but declined to return the funds despite multiple requests from him to do so. Instead of resolving the matter privately, she deposited the money with the police, escalating what could have been a straightforward transaction into a legal dispute.
The court's assessment of her conduct as "highly unreasonable" reflected her refusal to cooperate in rectifying the mistake. Legal experts note that such uncooperative behaviour in dispute resolution often results in unfavourable judgments regarding cost allocation.
The woman ultimately faced a significant financial penalty, ordered to pay legal costs exceeding $7,000—substantially more than the original amount in dispute. The case underscores the financial risks involved in refusing to resolve simple errors through reasonable means, and the courts' willingness to penalise parties who fail to act in good faith during dispute resolution.