Dr Chee had paid for legal advice from Mr Chang, who represented himself as a lawyer. -- ST FILE PHOTO
A WOMAN embroiled in a criminal case and two civil suits has scored a victory in one of the civil suits.
The High Court, in a written judgment, has ruled that Dr Stephanie Chee Jok Heng, 51, had been defrauded of $727,000 by businessman Chang Yue Shoon, 57, who had made himself out to be a lawyer at a time when she was desperate for legal advice.
Justice Woo Bih Li ordered Mr Chang to return Dr Chee the $45,000 that she had paid him in 'legal fees' and the $682,000 from the sale proceeds of her apartment that she had parked with him.
Dr Chee, who holds a doctorate in nursing but is now a housewife, first made the news for suing prominent wheelchair athlete William Tan Kian Meng last year.
In that civil case, for which the court's decision is pending, she sought the return of about $400,000 in loans to Dr Tan and losses she made from the sale of another apartment.
The criminal case involving Dr Chee has ended with her being convicted of cheating three charitable organisations that she once headed of $5,700. Her appeal against the conviction and a 13-month jail term is pending.
