Since the ’70s, Kay Lee Roast Meat Joint has been a reliable spot to get your fix for choice char siew cuts of duck and pork — but something corrupt laid underneath the delicately charred veneer of their honey glaze.
The couple behind the beloved chain of restaurants were found to have evaded nearly $55,000 in income taxes, according to the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore. They’ve since been sentenced to four weeks in jail and fined $164,751.45 each.
The chain was famously sold off to Aztech Group for a whopping $4 million back in 2014 by 64-year-old Ha Wai Kay, the owner of the restaurants. His wife — 69-year-old Kong Kuee Chin — helped keep accounting records for both Kay Lee Roast Meat Joint and her own business, Wan Tat Eating House.
Years before they sold the chain off, the couple under-declared Kay Lee’s sales figures by over $325,000 in 2009 and 2010. As a result, they managed to evade income taxes of $54,917.15.
While Kong knowingly under-declared the char siew chain’s total sales income, Ha under-declared his own income in both 2010 and 2011, and got undercharged for his income tax.
Regardless of their arrest and subsequent imprisonment, fans of the chain’s crisp, caramelised meats will still be able to enjoy them under the new management. You can find their store locations on their website.
