Mary Chia beauty firm appears in court over unpaid CPF contributions

On September 10, Mary Chia Beauty & Slimming Specialist appeared in court over unpaid Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions, amidst financial and legal issues involving its listed parent company, Mary Chia Holdings. The beauty company owed S$50,208 in CPF contributions, of which S$11,291 had been paid the day before. A payment plan was agreed upon with the CPF Board, with the company to make the current payment and one month of arrears.

The court adjourned the matter to October 8, noting the arrangement in place between the CPF Board and the company. Mary Chia Holdings, wholly owned by Catalist-listed Mary Chia, operates salons offering beauty and wellness services. Its CEO, Ho Yow Ping, has been a director of the subsidiary since its incorporation in 2009. Separately, Mary Chia Holdings is facing insolvency proceedings by lender Fullink Capital, who issued a statutory demand for S$902,640, claiming the debt was due to Ho acting as guarantor for a S$350,000 loan to Organica International Holdings.

Mary Chia disputed some of the late-payment fees and restructuring fees, but paid S$343,829 and S$14,000 in costs to Fullink in July. They continued to dispute the remaining S$558,811. The High Court stayed their challenge to the disputed charges pending the outcome of the insolvency proceedings.