Malaysian ex-beauty queen Pauline Chai has finally divorced her billionaire husband Tan Sri Khoo Kay Peng after a four-year long legal battle. The 70-year-old diva said that she can now finally continue with her life.
"I feel a great sense of relief that I can now move on with my life after nearly four years," said Chai in a message, which her lawyer New Sin Yew relayed, according to Malay Mail.
Chai was granted a decree absolute to formally resolve the proceedings in the United Kingdom. She was also granted a decree nisi, which allowed her to end the marriage with her 78-year-old husband after a certain date if no reason to not grant the divorce was produced. However, the settlement amount still remains undecided and the final call will be taken by a UK High Court judge later this year.
Meanwhile, New said that Malaysians proceedings should be academic following the UK court decision on the matter. "Since decree absolute has been granted that means her marriage has ended. So the divorce proceedings in Malaysia should be redundant or academic," he said, according to the news website.
The case drew international attention for the battle over the settlement amount. While Chai wanted the UK court to take the decision because she stood a chance to receive 50 per cent of Khoo's riches, the husband wanted the case to be in Malaysia where he had to shell out much less.
After much deliberation, it was decided that the case would proceed in UK even after a Malaysian High Court ruling that the case will be heard in Malaysia.
