A DAY after he was extradited from Hong Kong, former National Kidney Foundation (NKF) chairman Richard Yong Kun Da was yesterday slapped with 10 criminal charges - each carrying a maximum jail term of between one and three years.

He had fled the Republic with his wife On Shu Kio, amid questions surrounding his assets - notably the $7.5 million sale of three apartments.

The couple left barely hours after he was declared a bankrupt on May 16, when he failed to pay nearly $1 million to the charity after losing a civil suit earlier this year.

At the district court yesterday, Yong, 66, appeared glum and tired when he was led to the dock. However, he snapped to attention when the charges were read out to him before District Judge Jill Tan.

Among other things, he was accused of lying to Allen & Gledhill, the lawyers for the new NKF board, in order to buy time to transfer his assets to his wife.

He allegedly told the lawyers that he was trying to raise money to pay the amount he owed the charity when he knew it was not the truth.

In a letter dated Feb 26 this year - about three weeks after he had conceded defeat in the civil suit - Yong apparently asked for more time to raise the money.

However, on March 5, barely two weeks later, he was said to have transferred over $150,000 to his wife in a bid to avoid paying the charity.

A week later, on March 12, he allegedly moved his assets again. This time, he was said to have moved £1.275 million (S$4 million) into his wife's bank account in a similar attempt to escape payment.

Yong also faces seven criminal charges under the Bankruptcy Act - one of which was over his illegal departure from Singapore without the permission of the Official Assignee (OA).

The remaining six of these seven charges alleged that he was less than forthcoming with the OA - an officer of the court who administers the affairs of bankrupts.

Yong was accused of keeping the proceeds from the sale of his three apartments - in Cuscaden Walk, Bencoolen Street and Peck Hay Road - from the OA.

He was said to have kept the fact from the OA that he had transferred a club membership to his wife, and the fact that he had nearly $11,000 in three bank accounts, including two held jointly by him and his wife.

He also allegedly kept documents and records relating to his assets from the OA.

Yesterday, Deputy Public Prosecutor Francis Ng asked the court to remand Yong for a week for the Commercial Affairs Department to wrap up its investigations - a request which the judge granted.

Yong himself did not object to the request.

Speaking to The Sunday Times later, Yong's lawyer, Mr Jeffrey Beh, a long-time friend of his family, said he was engaged by Yong's wife who called him from Hong Kong just last week.

He said: 'My client's position has always been very clear. He had no intentions of running away from Singapore. He was in a deep depression and had sought medical treatment in Hong Kong.

'He has now returned to sort out this matter and wishes to solve it expeditiously.

'He also wants to apologise and seek the forgiveness of the people, including those whom he had helped in nearly 20 years as a volunteer.'

Yong's wife On remains in Hong Kong where she is currently facing a money-laundering charge for helping her husband transfer close to $4 million to an ING Bank account in Britain - a sum which is said to be the 'proceeds from a criminal offence'.

Hong Kong police believe that some time between March 14 and July 3, On moved part of the $7.5 million from the sale of their three properties in Singapore to the account.

She faces up to 14 years' jail and a maximum fine of HK$5 million (S$973,000).

Currently out on bail of HK$100,000, On is due to return to a Hong Kong court on Aug 31.

cheekin@sph.com.sg

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