Madison Pacific Trust Limited & 3 Ors v David Salim & Anor

[2025] SGHC 128 High Court (General Division) 7 July 2025 • HC/OA 891/2023 ( HC/SUM 1067/2025 ) • 49 min read

26 cases cited (20 SG, 6 foreign)

Catchwords

Civil Procedure — Disclosure of documents — Sealing order Legal Profession — Professional privileges — Section 128(1) of the Evidence Act 1893 (2020 Rev Ed) Equity — Remedies — Appointment of receiver — Section 4(10) of the Civil Law Act 1909 (2020 Rev Ed) — Section 18(2) and paragraphs 5(a) and 5(c) of the First Schedule to the Supreme Court of Judicature Act 1969 (2020 Rev Ed)

Practice Areas

Civil Procedure Legal Profession Equity

Judges (1)

Philip Jeyaretnam Delivered

Counsel (8)

Gabriel Law Corporation Firm Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP Firm Chew Xiang Counsel Applicant Chow Chao Wu Jansen Counsel Applicant Faith Hwang Zi Xin Counsel Applicant Nur Halimatul Syafheqah binte Rosman Counsel Third Party Sameer Bin Amir Melber Counsel Third Party Tan Jie Loong Counsel Applicant

Parties (9)

DS Global Holdings Pte Ltd Defendant Gabriel Law Corporation Third Party Investment Opportunities V Pte. Limited Applicant Madison Pacific Trust Limited Applicant TACF Institutional Credit Master Fund LP Applicant Tor Asia Credit Master Fund LP Applicant Chew Ee Ling Third Party David Salim Defendant Joshua James Taylor Third Party

Case Significance

[2025] SGHC 128 is a High Court (General Division) decision dated 7 July 2025 concerning Civil Procedure, Equity, and Legal Profession, specifically addressing disclosure of documents, professional privileges, and remedies. The judgment was delivered by Philip Jeyaretnam. The case was brought by Investment Opportunities V Pte. Limited and others (applicant) against DS Global Holdings Pte Ltd and others (respondent). Legal representation was provided by Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP. The judgment cites 26 cases (20 Singapore, 6 foreign) and references 9 statutory provisions, including the Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act, the Civil Law Act, and the Evidence Act.

Summary

Court-appointed receivers sought a production order directing Gabriel Law Corporation to provide information about the assets of judgment debtor David Salim, raising questions about legal professional privilege. The court granted a partial order for information (but not documents) and declined to order production of sealed court documents, finding that the receivers could not simply be equated with Mr Salim for the purpose of waiving privilege.

What was decided in [2025] SGHC 128?

[2025] SGHC 128 (Madison Pacific Trust Limited & 3 Ors v David Salim & Anor) is a High Court (General Division) decision from 7 July 2025 addressing Civil Procedure, Equity, and Legal Profession, specifically disclosure of documents, professional privileges, and remedies. The judgment was delivered by Philip Jeyaretnam.

Who were the parties in Madison Pacific Trust Limited & 3 Ors v David Salim & Anor?

The applicant in [2025] SGHC 128 was Investment Opportunities V Pte. Limited, Madison Pacific Trust Limited, and the respondent was DS Global Holdings Pte Ltd, David Salim. Legal representation included Gabriel Law Corporation and Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP. The case was decided on 7 July 2025 in the High Court (General Division).

Which judge decided [2025] SGHC 128?

[2025] SGHC 128 was delivered by Philip Jeyaretnam in the High Court (General Division) on 7 July 2025. The case concerned Civil Procedure, Equity, and Legal Profession.

What cases and statutes does [2025] SGHC 128 cite?

[2025] SGHC 128 cites 26 prior decisions, including 6 from foreign jurisdictions. It references Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act, Civil Law Act, Evidence Act.

Statutes Cited

Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act (Cap 30C)

s 47

Civil Law Act (Cap 43)

s 4(10) s 4(8)

Evidence Act (Cap 97)

s 128(1)

Insolvency Act

s 311(1)

Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act

Restructuring and Dissolution Act

Senior Courts Act

s 37(1)

Supreme Court of Judicature Act (Cap 322)

s 18(2)

UK Insolvency Act

s 311(3)

Cases Cited (26)

SG (3)

[1997] SGHC 235 [2018] SGHC 178 [2022] SGHC 278

SLR (17)

[1997] 1 SLR(R) 328 [1998] 1 SLR(R) 61 [2007] 2 SLR(R) 367 [2011] 2 SLR 998 [2012] 1 SLR 80 [2013] 1 SLR 245 [2013] 2 SLR 246 [2013] 3 SLR 258 [2013] 4 SLR 529 [2015] 4 SLR 474 [2016] 1 SLR 21 [2016] 5 SLR 755 [2022] 5 SLR 675 [2022] 5 SLR 896 [2023] 2 SLR 137 [2024] 4 SLR 1224 [2025] 1 SLR 49

UK (6)

[2000] 2 AC 115 [2003] 1 AC 563 [2003] 2 AC 736 [2012] EWHC 648 [2017] Ch 210 [2017] Ch 251

Judgment

Read the full judgment on the official Singapore Courts portal.

Read on eLitigation

Source: eLitigation ([2025] SGHC 128)