Judge Gives Ruling on Millionaire Couple's Divorce Settlement

A high court judge in London has recently given his decision in the long-running divorce dispute between millionaire couple Khoo Kay Peng and Pauline Chai, reports the Guardian.

The couple had been married for 42 years, but their relationship eventually came to an end in 2012. Khoo is the non-executive chair of Laura Ashley, and the couple are thought to have joint assets worth around £205 million.

Chai had sought a divorce settlement of £100 million, saying that by taking on the role of a ‘traditional’ wife and looking after the couple’s five children, she had contributed to her husband’s success and was therefore entitled to half their wealth. She also claimed that the couple had a sharing agreement with regards to their assets. Khoo however had only been prepared to offer his ex-wife £9 million.

Khoo had tried to have the divorce heard in Malaysia, where the family home was. However, Chai successfully argued that the case should be heard in London on the grounds that the couple had lived in Hertfordshire before they separated.

The judge in the family division of the High Court has now ruled that Chai should receive a settlement of £64 million – less than she originally sought but substantially more than was offered by her ex-husband. According to the Guardian, the bitter dispute has cost the couple over £6 million in legal fees.

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