Goh Jin Hian v Inter-Pacific Petroleum Pte Ltd

[2025] SGHC(A) 7 High Court (Appellate Division) 5 June 2025 • AD/CA 19/2024 • 69 min read

14 cases cited (13 SG, 1 foreign)

Catchwords

Damages — Remoteness Companies — Directors — Duties — Duty of skill, care and diligence Companies — Directors — Duties — Duty to take into account interests of creditors

Practice Areas

Damages Companies

Judges (3)

Kannan Ramesh Delivered Tay Yong Kwang Coram Woo Bih Li Coram

Counsel (10)

LVM Law Chambers LLC Firm TSMP Law Corporation Firm Ang Kai Le Counsel Appellant Chan Junhao Justin Counsel Respondent Chan Kia Pheng Counsel Respondent Dyason Isabel Mary Counsel Respondent Joshua Ho Jun Ling Counsel Respondent Lok Vi Ming Counsel Respondent Nanthini d/o Vijayakumar Counsel Appellant Thio Shen Yi Counsel Appellant

Parties (2)

Inter-Pacific Petroleum Pte Ltd (in liquidation) Respondent Goh Jin Hian Appellant

Case Significance

[2025] SGHC(A) 7 is a High Court (Appellate Division) decision dated 5 June 2025 concerning Companies and Damages, specifically addressing remoteness and directors. The judgment was delivered by Kannan Ramesh, with Tay Yong Kwang and Woo Bih Li on the coram. The case was brought by Goh Jin Hian (appellant) against Inter-Pacific Petroleum Pte Ltd (in liquidation) (respondent). Legal representation was provided by TSMP Law Corporation and LVM Law Chambers LLC. The judgment cites 14 cases (13 Singapore, 1 foreign) and references 1 statutory provision, namely the Companies Act.

Summary

Dr Goh Jin Hian, a non-executive director of Inter-Pacific Petroleum, appealed against findings that he breached his duty of care and creditor duty in relation to fraudulent cargo trade drawdowns on the company's bank facilities. The Appellate Division partially allowed the appeal, finding that while the director breached his duty of care through ignorance of the cargo trading business, the company failed to prove causation of loss.

What was decided in [2025] SGHC(A) 7?

[2025] SGHC(A) 7 (Goh Jin Hian v Inter-Pacific Petroleum Pte Ltd) is a High Court (Appellate Division) decision from 5 June 2025 addressing Companies and Damages, specifically remoteness and directors. The judgment was delivered by Kannan Ramesh.

Who were the parties in Goh Jin Hian v Inter-Pacific Petroleum Pte Ltd?

The appellant in [2025] SGHC(A) 7 was Goh Jin Hian, and the respondent was Inter-Pacific Petroleum Pte Ltd (in liquidation). Legal representation included TSMP Law Corporation and LVM Law Chambers LLC. The case was decided on 5 June 2025 in the High Court (Appellate Division).

Which judge decided [2025] SGHC(A) 7?

[2025] SGHC(A) 7 was delivered by Kannan Ramesh in the High Court (Appellate Division) on 5 June 2025. Tay Yong Kwang and Woo Bih Li also sat on the coram. The case concerned Companies and Damages.

What cases and statutes does [2025] SGHC(A) 7 cite?

[2025] SGHC(A) 7 cites 14 prior decisions, including 1 from foreign jurisdictions. It references Companies Act.

Statutes Cited

Companies Act (Cap 50)

s 157(1) s 391

Cases Cited (14)

SG (1)

[2024] SGHC 178

SLR (12)

[2004] 4 SLR(R) 162 [2007] 3 SLR(R) 782 [2013] 1 SLR 173 [2014] 3 SLR 562 [2017] 3 SLR 839 [2018] 2 SLR 333 [2018] 4 SLR 1213 [2020] 1 SLR 1199 [2023] 5 SLR 870 [2024] 1 SLR 361 [2024] 2 SLR 580 [2024] 5 SLR 106

UK (1)

[2013] EWCA Civ 71

Judgment

Read the full judgment on the official Singapore Courts portal.

Read on eLitigation

Source: eLitigation ([2025] SGHC(A) 7)