CZT v CZU

Case Significance

CZT v CZU [2024] SGCA(I) 6 was decided by the Court of Appeal of Singapore on 13 September 2024, with judgment reserved after a hearing on 2 July 2024. The matter was a Civil Appeal from the Singapore International Commercial Court No 11 of 2023, arising from Singapore International Commercial Court Originating Summons No 1 of 2023. The appeal was heard by Sundaresh Menon CJ, Steven Chong JCA and James Allsop IJ, with James Allsop IJ delivering the judgment of the court. The appellant CZT appealed against orders of the Singapore International Commercial Court, constituted by three judges, which had dismissed its application to set aside an arbitral award made in a dispute between the appellant (the respondent in the arbitration) and the respondent CZU (the claimant in the arbitration).

The catchwords identify the case as concerning arbitration and the setting aside of an award. The relevant ground on appeal was that the appellant had been denied natural justice in the making of the award. The underlying dispute arose out of a contract underpinning the construction of a certain type of defence equipment, with the court referring to the respondent as the "State Party" and the appellant, a defence equipment fabricator, as the "Foreign Constructor". The court dismissed the appeal. The appellant was represented by Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP, including Francis Xavier, while the respondent was represented by WongPartnership LLP, including Koh Swee Yen.