A legal dispute over a Clementi HDB flat has erupted between the current wife and former wife of a late Singapore police officer, with both women presenting sharply different versions of their relationship with the deceased and each other.
According to reports, the three-room flat at Clementi Avenue 3 became the centre of a court battle after station inspector Wang Weiqiang died from a heart attack in October 2022, reported Shin Min Daily News.
At the time of his death, Wang was married to 33-year-old Vietnamese national Nguyen Hoang Mai Phuong, while his former wife, identified as Dessy, is now contesting ownership of the property.
The flat was eventually sold for S$451,888, but the transaction has since become entangled in legal proceedings involving allegations of unpaid debts, broken agreements, abuse claims and family conflict.
Divorce Agreement At Heart Of Property Dispute
The former couple reportedly bought the Clementi HDB flat in 2011 after marrying in 2008. Wang also adopted Dessy’s daughter from a previous relationship, and the pair later had a son together.
Following their divorce in 2017, the current wife claimed that the court had awarded ownership of the flat to Wang. However, she alleged that the ownership transfer was never fully completed before his death.
After obtaining legal authority to administer Wang’s estate in June 2025, she discovered that the ex-wife had allegedly used Wang’s death certificate to transfer ownership of the flat into her own name before selling it.
The plaintiff is now seeking the return of the property proceeds as well as any rental income allegedly earned from the unit. The case has attracted attention among Singapore property law observers due to the complicated overlap between divorce rulings, estate administration and HDB ownership rights.
The ex-wife, however, argued that Wang had agreed to repay her a S$50,000 loan and continue monthly maintenance payments after the divorce in exchange for her giving up the property.
She claimed that Wang later stopped making payments after remarrying, which she viewed as a breach of their arrangement. Because of that, she argued that ownership of the flat should revert to her after his death.
She is also reportedly seeking repayment of an outstanding S$34,400 debt from Wang’s estate.
Family Members Support Ex-Wife’s Version Of Events
The dispute intensified further after both women presented dramatically different accounts of life inside the household.
The current wife told the court she had lived in the flat after marrying Wang and helped care for his special-needs son. She explained that she later moved out temporarily with her infant daughter due to safety concerns, alleging that the boy had a habit of throwing objects around.
The ex-wife strongly disputed this version of events and instead accused the plaintiff of mistreating the child and behaving abusively towards Wang.
According to affidavits filed in court, Wang’s father and brother supported the ex-wife’s claims. Wang’s father reportedly alleged he had seen bruises and injuries on his grandson and claimed the child became fearful whenever the plaintiff was around.
The family also alleged that Wang himself suffered injuries which they claimed were inflicted by the plaintiff’s mother.
Court documents further stated that Wang’s parents had asked the plaintiff to leave the family home after police were allegedly called during one confrontation.
Renovation Work Halted After Caveat Filed
The dispute reportedly delayed the sale and renovation of the Clementi unit after the plaintiff lodged a caveat on the property.
When reporters visited the flat, renovation works had apparently stopped midway, leaving the unit boarded up and vacant for months.
Neighbours told local media they rarely interacted with the family but occasionally saw Wang’s elderly parents visiting the flat. One resident said Wang’s father had once mentioned disliking his daughter-in-law, although no further details were shared.
The case has sparked discussion online about inheritance disputes, blended families and the legal complexities surrounding HDB ownership in Singapore.
As the matter remains before the courts, the final ownership outcome of the property — and the disputed sale proceeds — has yet to be determined.