Woman sues self-proclaimed spiritual medium over S$677,671 allegedly lost in property scam

SINGAPORE: A 66-year-old woman has filed a civil lawsuit in Singapore's High Court seeking to recover S$677,671 after alleging that she was deceived by a self-proclaimed spiritual medium into spending more than S$1 million on private residential properties and donations under the belief that the payments would honour a revered spiritual figure and improve her family's wellbeing.

The plaintiff, Chua Poh Lan, commenced proceedings in 2025 against Woo May Hoe, 56, alleging that Woo fraudulently induced her to part with approximately S$1.05 million between 2015 and 2020.

According to the statement of claim, police investigations later enabled Chua to recover nearly S$380,000, leaving an alleged outstanding loss of S$677,671.

Court documents obtained by Lianhe Zaobao show that the civil trial had been scheduled to begin in the High Court in late June 2025 and was expected to last six days.

The proceedings have since been adjourned, with the parties reportedly exploring the possibility of reaching a compensation agreement.

The civil action follows Woo's conviction in a separate criminal case.

In 2024, the State Courts sentenced her to 10½ years' imprisonment after she was convicted on 50 charges, including fraud and voluntarily causing hurt with a dangerous weapon. She is currently serving that sentence.

The criminal proceedings involved 17 victims, with Chua identified as one of those affected.

Alleged religious deception

According to the civil claim, Woo led an organisation of approximately 30 followers between 2012 and 2020 centred on devotion to Indian spiritual leader Sri Sakthi Narayani Amma, whom followers regarded as a divine incarnation.

The lawsuit alleges that Woo instructed followers to address her as "Lord" and claimed she could communicate directly with divine beings.

She allegedly told followers that making financial contributions would remove bad karma, accumulate spiritual merit and improve the health of themselves and their families.

Many followers were reportedly suffering from serious illnesses and, believing Woo's claims, complied with her instructions.

Two properties allegedly purchased under false pretences

According to the statement of claim, Woo persuaded Chua between 2015 and 2019 to pay nearly S$678,000 to purchase a private residential property at Jalan Waringin in the Bedok area.

Woo allegedly represented that the property would be used to house and honour Sri Sakthi Narayani Amma.

The lawsuit further alleges that Woo repeated the same representations in 2020, persuading Chua to provide another S$320,000 to purchase a second private property along Bedok Road for the same purpose.

The plaintiff also alleges that Woo fabricated an urgent financial crisis in 2016 by claiming she had borrowed S$500,000 from illegal moneylenders to finance a property deposit and was unable to repay the debt. Chua says she then handed Woo an additional S$57,780.

According to the claim, the properties were never used for the stated religious purpose. Instead, Woo allegedly retained both homes as her own residences and at one stage intended to sell them for personal gain.

Police investigations later recovered part of the money Chua had allegedly lost.

Plaintiff alleges threats and intimidation

Counsel for the plaintiff, Wong Jit of Wong & Wong Lawyers, contends that Woo intimidated Chua and other followers by warning that they and their family members would suffer harm if they refused to provide money or comply with her instructions.

According to the plaintiff's case, Woo also subjected followers to harsh and abusive punishments if they disobeyed her directives.

The statement of claim alleges that many followers exhausted their life savings and accumulated substantial debts in an effort to satisfy Woo's demands.

Woo denies allegations and files counterclaim

Woo has denied numerous allegations in her defence.

She contends that the organisation, Om Namo Narayani, was a legitimate group and maintains that she was merely a member rather than its leader. She also denies requiring followers to address her as "Lord".

Woo further argues that the purchase of the two Bedok-area properties was a collective decision made by several followers, including Chua, with the intention that they would eventually live together and care for one another.

According to the defence, one of the properties was purchased in the name of Chua's child, whom Woo says is the lawful owner. On that basis, Woo argues that she could not have intended to sell the property for her own benefit.

In addition to contesting the lawsuit, Woo has filed a counterclaim through Robert Wang & Woo LLC.

She alleges that she previously lent Chua S$195,000 and has never been repaid. Woo is seeking a High Court order requiring Chua to repay the alleged loan.

Chua denies ever borrowing money from Woo.

The competing claims remain before the High Court and have yet to be determined.

Criminal case revealed broader abuse

Woo's earlier criminal proceedings revealed broader allegations concerning her treatment of followers.

According to the facts admitted during those proceedings, Woo not only deceived followers into making payments but also subjected some to prolonged physical abuse as punishment for perceived disobedience.

The admitted facts included incidents in which followers were allegedly stabbed with scissors, had teeth extracted, were forced to consume faeces, or were instructed to abuse fellow followers on Woo's behalf.

The criminal case also detailed the experience of one female follower who was allegedly compelled to resign from her job to serve Woo full-time before being subjected to sustained abuse.

According to the admitted facts, Woo ordered the woman to jump from the second floor of a building in Ubi Techpark, resulting in a fractured ankle. Woo also instructed another follower to use pliers to extract two of the victim's teeth.