WHEN shipping tycoon Ng Teow Yhee died in 2001, he left more than $10 million in assets to only one of his eight children - his favourite son.

His 82-year-old wife, two of his children and three grandsons went to court last year. They claimed, despite his will's instruction, that the patriarch had indicated they had a share of the family house, his estate and specific cash amounts.

His wife, Madam Low Ah Cheow, and three of the children, are living in the family house in Wiltshire Road.

Justice Woo Bih Li, in his written judgment, said it was 'unusual' for one child to get an entire estate, when there were many children. But the judge noted that the patriarch had been 'fed-up with the rest of the children as well as his wife'.

It emerged that Mr Sebastian Ng, 50, had become Mr Ng's favourite son at the time the will was executed and when he died in April 2001.

Two of his other sons, Ricky and Sunny, had allegedly gambled heavily and a third, Raymond, had looked to Mr Ng for financial help. Their mother, Madam Low, spoilt her children and often asked Mr Ng to bail them out.

Although Mr Ng was unhappy with all this, the judge noted that the patriarch - who made a fortune in shipping and stevedoring services - had provided for family members by giving them homes, vehicles, salaries and shares.

The judge said it was, however, not for Sebastian to justify why he was given everything under the will.

It was for the claimants to show that what he received was subject to the oral gifts sought by them to be legally enforced. Justice Woo held they had failed to do this.

Read the full report in Monday's edition of The Straits Times.