SINGAPORE - Giving his decision on Monday, Justice Woo Bih Li ruled in favour of the gallery, rejecting businessman Vincent Ang Chee Soon's contention that the price he paid was for a "package deal" for geomancy services, of which the statue was only a part of.

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Geomancy firm sues customer over $576k Goddess of Mercy statue

This article was first published on March 26.

Singapore - Fengshui gallery chain Lotus On Water has taken a customer, businessman Vincent Ang Chee Soon, to court over a Goddess of Mercy statue priced at over $576,000 after the client had failed to make payment.

According to an article in The Straits Times, Mr Ang, in his 50s, had bought the sandalwood statue at the gallery's Marina Bay Sands showroom in March 2011, and made a down payment of $100,000.

He was to pay the rest by October 2011 or when he sold his factory in Joo Koon, whichever was earlier. When he failed to pay after repeated demands, the gallery sued.

However, Mr Ang contends that the price that was agreed on was not for the statue alone, but included geomancy services for his aluminium factory by the gallery's founder, fengshui master Cheah Fah Loong.

Mr Ang also said the gallery breached the contract when it delivered a defective statue, which was not the one he had inspected at the showroom.

In the High Court yesterday, the gallery's lawyer, Mr Adrian Wong, said Mr Ang was raising unsubstantiated assertions in a bid to evade payment. The issue of contention in the court hearing yesterday is whether the agreement was for the sale of the statue or the provision of geomancy services.

Mr Ang is relying on an invoice issued by the gallery to his company AVA Global. On it was stated that payment was made for geomancy services. But Mr Cheah, who took the stand yesterday, said it was done so Mr Ang could claim for the statue's purchase.

Mr Cheah said the statue displayed in the showroom had a price tag of $680,000 and was not for sale. He agreed to sell his copy of the statue, which was kept at his home, to Mr Ang for $538,888. With GST, the price rose to $576,610.16.

But Mr Ang's lawyer, Mr James Ponniah, said Mr Cheah had agreed to provide geomancy services for Mr Ang's factory on condition he bought the statue. Mr Ponniah had also said that Mr Cheah had told his client that the services work best with prayers offered to the Goddess of Mercy, but the fengshui master denied this.

Mr Ang claims a few days after taking delivery, he complained to the gallery the statue was defective as some fingers were broken.

He claims Mr Cheah had initially agreed to replace the statue at no extra cost but seven months later, demanded a further $90,000.

Photos: Lotus on Water, Zaobao, BT

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