MATILDA Chua was a full-time employee of the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) who left to form Global Net Relations, a telemarketing company.

One of the investors in her enterprise was NKF chief executive T.T. Durai.

She was also the representative of a second company, Proton Web Solutions, a telemarketing company with a call centre based in India, which was given an NKF contract. She went from being an NKF employee to Mr Durai's business partner, an NKF contractor and finally, she joined the NKF board of directors as well.

Senior Counsel Davinder Singh yesterday probed Mr Durai on his 'commercial relationship' with Ms Chua.

Davinder Singh: Does the NKF have a relationship with (Proton Web Solutions)?

T.T. Durai: Yes.

Davinder Singh: What is the nature of that relationship?
T.T. Durai: I think we contracted our call centre work with them.

Davinder Singh: They do telemarketing for NKF?

T.T. Durai: Yes.

Davinder Singh: They earn a fee?

T.T. Durai: Yes.

Davinder Singh: Is there a member of the board of NKF who is also interested in this company, Proton Web?

T.T. Durai: Yes.

Davinder Singh: Who is that?

T.T. Durai: Ms Matilda Chua.

Davinder Singh: What is she in Proton Web?

T.T. Durai: I think she is a representative of the company.

Davinder Singh: So she is the Singapore rep?

T.T. Durai: Yes.

Davinder Singh: And she therefore benefits as a result of that contract between NKF and Proton Web? In fact, she has disclosed it in the financial statements?

T.T. Durai: Yes.

Davinder Singh: Did you have any relationship with Ms Chua in terms of business?

T.T. Durai: Yes.

Davinder Singh: What relationship was that?
T.T. Durai: I helped her to - she was involved in setting up a company known as Global Net Relations in 2000.

Davinder Singh: What does that company do?

T.T. Durai: It was also doing call centre work, at the height of the Internet boom.

Davinder Singh: Did you disclose this to the NKF?

T.T. Durai: No, I did not disclose it to the NKF because I just invested in the company. I participated in the growth of the company.

Davinder Singh: So the situation is, you were an investor in a company, in which Matilda Chua is also an investor, right?

T.T. Durai: Yes.

Davinder Singh: You were a director of that company as well?

T.T. Durai: Yes, I was.

Davinder Singh: As was Matilda?

T.T. Durai: Yes.

Davinder Singh: All of this is not disclosed to the NKF, right?

T.T. Durai: Yes, it was not material at that point.

Davinder Singh: Matilda Chua is also the representative of a company called Proton which benefits from NKF business?

T.T. Durai: Yes.

Davinder Singh: And you arranged to bring her onto the board of NKF as well?
T.T. Durai: She joined the board, yes.

Davinder Singh: It has to be on your invitation, surely?

T.T. Durai: No, my colleagues invited her.

Davinder Singh: And you had nothing to do with it?

T.T. Durai: No, I accepted it.

Davinder Singh: You had nothing to do with it?

T.T. Durai: I had a part to play in that, yes.

Davinder Singh: You did. Is it a coincidence that Proton Web and Global operated out of the same premises in Singapore?

T.T. Durai: I would not know that.

Davinder Singh: I am asking you, sir, as an investor, and a director of Global, is it a coincidence that these two companies operate out of the same premises in Singapore? If you do not know what they are, it is 7 Temasek Boulevard, Suntec Tower. Does that ring a bell?

T.T. Durai: Yes, but I had given up my interest in Global sometime last year.

Davinder Singh: That is not my question. My question is: is it a coincidence?

T.T. Durai: No.

Davinder Singh: Why is it not a coincidence?

T.T. Durai: Because Ms Matilda Chua is involved in the companies, I presume.

Davinder Singh: Now, sir, the position therefore is, you have a commercial relationship with a lady, Ms Chua, who has a contract with the NKF through Proton Web?

T.T. Durai: Yes.

Davinder Singh: Ms Chua benefits from that contract with NKF, correct?

T.T. Durai: Yes.

Davinder Singh: And you, in turn, have a benefit in that relationship with Ms Chua through Global Net?

T.T. Durai: That is not true.