Former Mrs Malaysia and hubby in legal battle with dental chain operator
SINGAPORE: A former Mrs Malaysia Universe and her husband are embroiled in a legal spat with dental chain operator Q&M Dental Group.
The Singapore-listed company sued Zoe Chong Lee Lee and her husband, Dr Matthew Hong An Liang, after uncovering evidence that suggested both had breached various agreements. They used to run Q&M’s clinics in Johor.
In a stock exchange filing,the dental chain operator alleged that evidence suggested that the couple had deposited or transferred company funds into their personal accounts, and they had set up a competing business directly located behind one of their Johor clinics, using the company’s resources without approval.
Dr Hong was a director of Q&M Molek and Q&M Austin in Johor, and was also practising as a dentist in the Johor clinics until he was sus- pended in June last year.
Chong was the general manager of the clinics until she was relieved of her services in July last year,
Their family members who worked at the clinics also had their employment terminated.
In its Feb 7 filing, Q&M Dental said the High Court in Malaysia had granted several injunctions which prohibited Dr Hong, Chong and related parties from entering into any Q&M Johor clinic or interfering with their business, tampering with the company’s property, and intimidating or coercing its staff and patients.
It said the public prosecutor in Malaysia had charged Dr Hong in the Johor Baru magistrate’s court with using criminal force against one of the dentists. He was also charged with criminally intimidating one of the dentists.
Q&M Dental had also lodged a complaint with the Malaysia Dental Council against Dr Hong for unprofessional conduct as a dentist for previously carrying out unapproved procedures in its clinics.
The company said that contributions from Johor did not materially affect its performance and financial results.
Chong, a mother of two, made headlines in Malaysia after winning the Mrs Malaysia Universe pageant in 2015.