Cover image via KL Bar
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A 75-year-old man is facing a daily fine of RM20,000 for refusing to share matrimonial assets with his wife following a judicial separation
The Kuala Lumpur High Court initiated contempt proceedings against the man after he refused to equally divide RM60 million in matrimonial assets, despite an extramarital affair with a woman nearly 40 years his junior.
According to FMT, the contempt proceedings were filed by his 73-year-old wife after he failed to comply with a 24 November 2024 judgment that awarded her half of the couple's assets, both movable and immovable, accumulated over their five-decade-long marriage.
Justice Sumathi Murugiah gave him 30 days to comply or face imprisonment, while imposing the RM20,000 daily fine in the meantime.
The marriage, which began in 1977, saw the wife make significant sacrifices to support her husband's professional and business pursuits
The affair, revealed in September 2022, reportedly prompted the wife, identified as HAI, to file for judicial separation a month later, seeking spousal maintenance and half of all assets acquired during the marriage.
Justice Evrol Mariette Peters, who presided over the original trial and is now a Court of Appeal judge, had also ordered the 38-year-old co-respondent in the affair to pay HAI RM200,000 for her role in the marriage breakdown.
In addition to the adultery, the husband, who was anonymised as PAI, ignored court orders requiring joint valuations of the matrimonial assets. A consequential order issued on 25 February also mandated him to cover the valuer's fees, which he failed to pay, reported FMT.
During proceedings, the husband denied cheating and cited health issues, including erectile dysfunction.
Lawyers Goh Siu Lin and Denise Lim represented HAI, while Shamesh Jeevaretnam and Tan Zhe Yoong appeared for the husband.
The husband has 30 days to comply with the order or face imprisonment.
