A father-son duo, both renovation contractors, were fined S$1,400 each after pleading guilty to criminal trespass. The pair had entered their client’s flat and removed furniture they had installed, including doors and toilet bowls, following the client’s unilateral termination of the contract without paying the full fees. According to the contract, the Lius were entitled to the furniture and were owed at least S$14,640. , reported Shin Min Daily News.
The Lius had been hired by a couple in their 30s to renovate their HDB flat in Yew Tee in April 2022. The flat was leased to four tenants at the time. The renovation was priced at S$51,000, with the couple required to pay S$15,000 upfront and the remaining amount over 45 months. The agreement stated that the renovation must be completed by June 2022 and that all furniture supplied by the contractor would belong to the contractor until all fees were paid.
However, after a disagreement over renovation style, the husband told the Lius he wanted to terminate the contract on June 17, 2022, when at least S$29,900 worth of renovation work had already been completed. The Lius felt it would be difficult to recover the owed amount after termination and decided to enter the couple’s unit and remove some of the furniture they had installed.
On June 20, 2022, the Lius entered the couple’s flat and removed a water pipe, three doors, two toilet bowls, and a bathroom window panel. When the husband discovered the missing furniture, he alerted the police. The Lius had brought the furniture back to their office and demanded payment from the couple via text message.
The elder Liu expressed regret for allowing the couple to pay in instalments, stating that he had felt sorry for their supposed financial predicament. The couple had allegedly refused to pay the renovation fees owed and had requested “free gifts” during the renovation. The Lius have since stated that they will consider changing their payment collection methods to avoid similar situations in the future. , reported Shin Min Daily News.
During sentencing, the district judge emphasized that even though the Lius were owed money, they should have pursued proper channels instead of taking matters into their own hands. The Lius’ actions highlight the importance of clear communication and adherence to contractual obligations in business relationships.