Singapore High Court denies man's claim to recover $369,000 in gifts to ex‑girlfriend

Singapore’s High Court has ruled in favour of a woman who sued her former partner over a dispute concerning a series of gifts he had provided. The presiding judge concluded that the man had “willingly” showered the claimant with the items, noting that the generosity began before the couple were formally together, thereby undermining the plaintiff’s argument that the gifts were given under duress or as part of a contractual obligation.

The judgment, delivered on Thursday, affirmed that the gifts were voluntary and not subject to repayment or restitution. The court’s decision rests on established Singaporean precedent that gifts given without coercion or a binding agreement remain the property of the recipient, even if the relationship later dissolves. By confirming the man’s intent as gratuitous, the ruling closes the case and sets a clear reference point for future disputes involving personal gifts in intimate relationships.