An 84-year-old blind woman successfully sued two of her children to recover nearly $1.37 million in proceeds from the sale of a shophouse left by her late husband. The High Court ruled in favor of Madam Thamby Kannu Parvathi on October 31, dismissing claims by her younger daughter, S. Geetha Subramaniam, and her son, S. Mogan, that their mother had gifted them the funds.

Senior Judge Lai Siu Chiu found that the siblings exploited their mother’s blindness and advanced age by obtaining her signature on a gift document that transferred her share of the shophouse sale proceeds to them. The court ruled that the document was invalid, as Madam Thamby was unaware that she had given away her half of the property when she signed it.

The property, located in Little India’s Dunlop Road, was sold for over $2.6 million in 2017, and the proceeds were to be divided between Madam Thamby and her children. However, Madam Thamby later discovered that her share had been withheld, prompting her to take legal action.

The court found the children’s claims unreliable and noted inconsistencies in their testimony. Justice Lai emphasized that there was no evidence that the siblings had cared for their parents prior to their father’s death, nor was there any reason for Madam Thamby to forgo her inheritance in gratitude.

The ruling highlights the court’s stance against the exploitation of vulnerable individuals and reaffirms the widow’s right to her rightful share of her late husband’s estate.