On Wednesday, High Court Judge Westmin James dismissed Housing Minister David Lee’s challenge against the DPP over reinstated fraud charges related to a vehicle tax exemption.
The case originates from September 2022 charges that Lee and businessman Hugh Leong Poi conspired to deprive the state of roughly $1.4 million in tax revenue by importing a Mercedes‑Benz G63 AMG valued over $2 million. Prosecutors say Lee misrepresented himself as the vehicle’s owner to gain parliamentary tax exemptions.
Lee had previously secured a magistrate’s dismissal of the charges in April 2025 after a no‑case submission. The DPP, citing the earlier Indictable Offences (Preliminary Enquiry) Act, obtained a High Court order to revive the case. Judge James upheld the DPP’s use of the older legislation and rejected Lee’s claims of constitutional violation and abuse of process.
The ruling confirms that the earlier law remains applicable to cases initiated before the new legislation took effect and that Lee’s voluntary choice of the preliminary inquiry system does not automatically terminate proceedings. Lee can still seek further relief, including a stay of trial, but will not be ordered to pay state legal costs.
Lee is represented by Senior Counsel Fyard Hosein, with Sasha Bridgemohansingh, Aadam Hosein and Pravana Maharaj also on his team. The DPP’s counsel includes Senior Counsel Ian Benjamin and a team of experienced attorneys.