NCC cadets from India attend week-long youth exchange programme in Singapore

Former managing director of L&W Construction Private Limited, Asaithambi Manickam, is taking legal action against his Singaporean joint venture partner in India, seeking to reverse his dismissal and challenge the legality of the proceedings that led to it. The case comes as part of an ongoing dispute between Lee Kim Tah and Woh Hup, two construction groups based in Singapore.

Asaithambi, who holds directorial positions in L&W, has filed a suit in Bengaluru's city and civil sessions court, demanding an interim order to halt the termination process and preventing any further interference with his management role. He is also requesting the court to annul any actions taken after his removal from the company, and to reaffirm his entitlement to continue his directorship duties.

The lawsuit names L&W, its directors Teoh Hang Boon and Eugene Yong, and Lee Kim Tah–Woh Hup Pte Ltd, the Singapore-based holding company, as defendants. The case is set to be heard on September 21, where the court will assess Asaithambi's request for interim measures and the invalidation of his dismissal. Asaithambi, who has a long-standing relationship with Woh Hup, joined the company in 2004 and later became a part of the Lee Kim Tah–Woh Hup joint venture.

In his role as managing director, he was responsible for overseeing the company's construction projects, which included significant developments for Singapore-linked institutional investors such as CapitaLand and Mapletree. The termination of Asaithambi's position was preceded by a series of conflicts between the two joint venture partners over how to address allegations made against him.

In a parallel legal action, Lee Kim Tah alleged that Woh Hup chairman Kim Yong and his brother Eugene had failed to act swiftly in response to an independent audit's findings of misconduct, including the use of fictitious invoices, improper payments, contracts with related parties, and mismanagement of funds. The audit report was prepared by KPMG India, and the allegations were reportedly brought to the attention of the company's management in January of the previous year.

However, Asaithambi remained employed by L&W until June of the same year, having been placed on paid leave since January of the year prior. The lawsuit also accused the Yong brothers of delaying any action against Asaithambi and selectively disclosing or concealing relevant information in connection with the allegations. A judge recently dismissed Lee Kim Tah's complaint against the Yong brothers, ruling that the commercial court was not the suitable venue for the dispute.

This decision is currently under appeal to the Karnataka High Court. In his legal challenge, Asaithambi has categorically denied all the accusations made against him. He maintains that his dismissal was unlawful and not conducted in accordance with proper procedures. Furthermore, Asaithambi argues that he was not granted access to the audit reports and other supporting documentation, and asserts that his actions were motivated by ongoing disputes among shareholders in Singapore.