SINGAPORE – In an unprecedented case, a judge of the Subordinated Courts of Singapore will be adjudicating her own divorce suit.
The judge, Judge Kang Ge Ru, was assigned the case randomly through normal court procedure. As there are only four judges serving on the family division of the Subordinated Courts, the chances of her receiving the case was 25%.
The lawyer representing the judge’s husband had requested that Judge Kang recuse herself from the proceedings in order to avoid any semblance of bias. However, his application was denied.
“What was observed and heard by me during my marriage and the mental and emotional anguish I had to suffer while living with my husband cannot be fully appreciated from a mere survey of the evidence or from listening to eyewitnesses,” said Judge Kang.
“Thus, only I will be able to render a proper verdict and arrive at the fairest distribution of assets and custodial rights.”
Judge Kang’s decision was vehemently protested by her estranged husband, Mr Han Pek Man.
“What foul logic is this? Does that mean that a victim of a robbery should preside over the case against the robber because he is best acquainted with what happened?”
Judge Kang has refused to answer her husband’s question.
“It is irrelevant,” she ruled.
