LKT's Former Director Sued Amid Claims That CapitaLand's Ex-Staff Took Bribes in India

A lawsuit filed by construction player Lee Kim Tah (LKT) against one of its former directors for alleged breach of duties has surfaced allegations that several former employees of CapitaLand in India had received corrupt payments in relation to work on a project there.

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The breach of duties relates to CapitaLand's project in India and other transactions, according to court documents seen by The Business Times.

CapitaLand said it investigated the matter when it came to light in 2023, and went to the police.

"Given the ongoing investigation, we are unable to comment further on the case," it said, stressing that it is "fully committed to conducting business with the highest ethical standards and integrity, and has a zero-tolerance policy towards unethical conduct."

The former LKT employee being sued, Mr Edmund Cheah Tiang Ann, was a director with the company from 2005 to 2023, during which time he oversaw its investments. He was also in charge of L&W Construction, which provided construction services to property projects in India, and CapitaLand was one of its clients.

L&W is a subsidiary of a joint venture between LKT and Woh Hup, also a construction player.

In the suit, LKT accused Mr Cheah of allowing the subsidiary L&W to enter into "dubious transactions" under his watch.

The accusations against him chiefly involve L&W's former managing director Asaithambi Manickam who, LKT has alleged, paid bribes to government officials and to employees of clients.