True Group's deputy CEO dies

Aug 23, 2010
True Group's deputy CEO dies
By Liew Hanqing
Mr Wee (above), the deputy group CEO of the True Group, which comprises fitness and wellness businesses across Asia, died in the wee hours of Saturday morning in Bangkok, shortly after returning from a day of golf in Pattaya. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO

HE had recently celebrated his birthday and had proposed to his girlfriend on the very same day. But just over a week later, Mr John Patrick Wee, 50, the third of late Chief Justice Wee Chong Jin's four children, died of a heart attack in his sleep while on a work trip in Thailand.

Mr Wee, the deputy group CEO of the True Group, which comprises fitness and wellness businesses across Asia, died in the wee hours of Saturday morning in Bangkok, shortly after returning from a day of golf in Pattaya.

He was rushed to hospital after earlier complaining of discomfort in his chest, but died in hospital later in his sleep.

His older brother, Mr Laurence Wee, 53, told The Straits Times at the wake on Monday that his brother had been given a clean bill of health by his doctor just weeks before he left for Thailand. 'We didn't expect this would happen,' he said.

He added that the family had celebrated his brother's birthday at a Chinese restaurant on Aug 12, just after he had proposed to his girlfriend, Ms Juliana Jauw, earlier that day. Ms Jauw, an undergraduate, was distraught but holding up, Mr Wee said.

In a statement, Ms Jauw, 22, said she was deeply saddened by her fiance's sudden death. 'We were both excited to start planning for our wedding. John was a loving man and adored children. He would have made a wonderful husband and a loving father,' she said.