Billionaire sues Royce-Royce dealer for car flaw

A local tycoon has seek to reclaim over S$1 million in damages from a Rolls-Royce dealer over an alleged defect in his Phantom. The case was heard in court yesterday.

The owner of Fragrance Group, Mr Koh Wee Meng, has filed a lawsuit against Trans Eurokars, the local authorised distributor for Rolls-Royce cars. He has decided to sue the dealer after repeated visits to the workshop did not solve the problem.

The $1.4 million luxury sedan was bought in 2008. Mr Koh claims that just three days after delivery, the car started making unusual noise and vibrates when it tries to move off from a three-point turn. The car has now been driven for more than four years, and has done around 46,000km.

The 50-year old property and budget-hotel tycoon has an estimated net worth of S$1.54 billion, and was ranked 15th among the richest in Singapore.

In defence, the dealer said that the noise and vibration is common. The principal - Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has also expressed that they have not received similar complaints from other Phantom customers in the world.