Khoo Jeffrey and others v Life Bible-Presbyterian Church and others
| Khoo Jeffrey and others v Life Bible-Presbyterian Church and others | |
|---|---|
 The Old Supreme Court Building, photographed in April 2007 | |
| Court | Court of Appeal of Singapore |
| Full case name | Khoo Jeffrey and others v. Life Bible-Presbyterian Church and others |
| Decided | 26 April 2011 |
| Citation(s) | [2011] SGCA 18 3 SLR 500 |
| Case history | |
| Prior action(s) | Life Bible-Presbyterian Church v Khoo Eng Teck Jeffrey and others and another suit [2010] SGHC 187 |
| Subsequent action(s) | Khoo Jeffrey and others v. Life Bible-Presbyterian Church and others [2012] SGCA 37 |
| Case opinions | |
| Charitable purpose trusts | |
| Court membership | |
| Judges sitting | Chao Hick Tin, Andrew Phang Boon Leong and V.K. Rajah JJ.A. |
Khoo Jeffrey and others v. Life Bible-Presbyterian Church and others is a landmark case decided in 2011 by the Court of Appeal of Singapore. It is the first case in Singapore[1] which the apex court considered the issue of a breach of a charitable purpose trusts when a religious charity is alleged to have deviated from the fundamental principles upon which it was founded.
Background
Dispute between Life Bible-Presbyterian Church and Far Eastern Bible College (FEBC) over Verbal Plenary Preservation.[2]
High Court decision
Holding of the High Court
On 30 June 2010, High Court judge Judith Prakash ruled in favour of the church. She held that the college was a separate entity from the 1962 one as it had a different constitution.
Court of Appeal decision
Issues before the Court of Appeal
- Is the College a ministry of the Church?
- Is the College an unincorporated association or a charitable trust?
- Are the Premises impressed with a charitable trust in favour of the joint use of the College and the Church?
- Are the Appellants the current directors of the Board of the College?
- What is the legal effect arising from the Appellants’ act of registering a college in the College’s name but with a different constitution?
Supplementary judgment
On 25 July 2012, Chao Hick Tin JA delivered a supplementary judgment [2012] SGCA 37 to designate a High Court judge to draw up a scheme between both parties.
Citations
The case was cited in Chee Hock Keng v. Chu Sheng Temple [2015] SGHC 192.
References
- ↑ "Singapore Court of Appeal explores issue concerning breach of charitable purpose trust". Legal Bulletin (Allen & Gledhill). p. 34.
- ↑ John, Arul (18 December 2008). "Church sues Bible college directors". The New Paper.