BY JOY FANG

AN IRATE Indonesian concert-goer - one of the 4,000 disappointed by singer Tom Jones' walkout last Friday - has issued a letter demanding compensation from the veteran singer and concert organiser Resorts World Sentosa (RWS).

Mr Hotman Paris Hutapea, 50, a litigation lawyer and founder of law firm Hotman Paris & Partners in Jakarta, wrote that his firm is preparing to file a civil suit against RWS, its agent in Indonesia and the singer.

He is also seeking compensation for his and his friend's expenses on flight, accommodation and transportation, and punitive damages of US$2 million (S$2.8 million).

He and his friend each bought a $368 concert ticket. He paid $540 for flights for both of them, and stayed two nights at the Mandarin Orchard Singapore.

Jones, 69, had cut short his gig after singing two songs. A specialist later diagnosed him with acute laryngitis, or inflammation of the voice box.

The gig has been rescheduled for 8pm tomorrow at RWS. Those who cannot attend can get a refund at the Singapore Indoor Stadium's Sistic box office.

Mr Hutapea will not be able to make it as he had to fly back to Jakarta on Sunday to prepare for work on Monday.

He told my paper he was filing a civil suit because he wanted to teach the singer and the concert organisers "a lesson".

He was incensed at the way the concert ended abruptly, especially since he had postponed a meeting last Friday to fly specially to Singapore to catch the gig.

He said: "Tom Jones simply said a few words and left.

"It was very impolite and disrespectful. The organisers also didn't even come on stage to comment or apologise.

"I was very frustrated and disappointed with how they managed it.

"The issue isn't the money... I have a moral obligation to tell other people what happened."

He said that he would file the lawsuit in Jakarta next week, regardless of whether the singer or RWS responds to his letter.

RWS is looking into the matter, and has referred the case to its legal department, its spokesman said.

Concert organisers and lawyers said yesterday that such lawsuits are rare.

Mr Ross Knudsen, director of concert promoter LAMC Productions, said that a concert promoter is obliged to refund concert- goers only the cost of the tickets, or reschedule the show.

In this case, RWS and Jones are making a good effort to accommodate the fans, he said.

"I'm sure Tom Jones felt really bad about it and, to his credit, he is staying on in Singapore to redo the show. A lot of artists wouldn't do that, they would just get on the plane and come back next year," he said.

Mr Jispal Singh, a lawyer who has specialised in litigation for more than 10 years, said that he does not think Mr Hutapea has a strong case.

"Usually, the terms and conditions are all stated on the ticket. So, if the conditions for cancellation fall within them, he has no case," he said.

A Singapore litigation lawyer, who declined to be named, said that Mr Hutapea might succeed in claiming his expenses if he could prove that the concert's postponement was a breach of contract, that the terms and conditions did not limit damages to just the value of the tickets, and that the expenses resulted directly from the postponement.

joyfang@sph.com.sg

For more my paper stories click here.