A district court in Singapore awarded over S$417,000 in damages to Jonathan Ko Wei Ze following the death of his father, Mr Ko Wah, who succumbed five years after a 2019 traffic accident caused by Mr Samikannu Manickavasakar. Mr Ko sustained severe traumatic brain injuries, leaving him bedridden and permanently mentally incapacitated until his passing in 2024. Deputy Registrar Kim Bum Soo lambasted NTUC Income, the defendants’ insurer, for “wholly unreasonable behaviour,” including baseless objections, stonewalling tactics, and denying claims for pain and suffering despite clear evidence.
Singapore Court
The damages included S$218,000 for pain and suffering, pre-trial loss of earnings, and medical expenses, though some claims were dismissed due to insufficient documentation. NTUC Income’s belated concessions failed to avert prolonged litigation, underscoring ongoing issues in insurance disputes.
