MinMin
April 13th, 2008, 02:00 PM
Money was at the root of break-up
http://www.asiaone.com/specials/loveisover/images/main_rotator_2.jpg
I was blind.
This is what national paddler Li Jiawei has to say about her 51/2-year relationship with national shuttler Ronald Susilo, after it was reported that he is considering legal action against her to recover some $50,000 to $100,000.
She also told close friends that given what has happened, she does not regret breaking up with him at all.
In last week's Sunday Times report, sources said Susilo had contributed the amount to buy a car and condominium when they were together.
He consulted lawyers on the matter when Li started ignoring his calls after he handed the car over to her in February.
Li, 26, has since offered to resolve the matter through a mutually agreed third party.
Friends of the table tennis star said the latest development in what was once a fairy-tale romance has upset Li greatly.
'Jiawei feels very aggrieved that Ronald has taken this step. But this has only made her even more convinced that it was the right decision to end their relationship,' said a friend who declined to be named.
The couple parted ways in January. It was said to be an amicable separation at the time, but apparently there was much hostility in the break-up, as recent events reveal.
Sources said Li was having a break in Malaysia with some teammates when a friend alerted her via a text message about the Sunday Times report. She immediately burst into tears.
The China-born player, who came to Singapore when she was 14, was so shaken by the news that she even contemplated catching the next flight home to her parents in Beijing.
Said the source: 'But she soon calmed down and decided to return to Singapore to settle the matter. It is not her style to run away from problems. Besides, she told herself she has done nothing wrong.'
When contacted last Friday, the Indonesian-born Susilo, 28, said he would like to keep the matter private.
'I would also like to go on record that I did not approach any media to publish reports of Jiawei's relationship with me,' he added.
They started dating soon after they returned from the Manchester Commonwealth Games in 2002. But friends said cracks began appearing as early as 2003, when the couple's differing attitudes towards money became apparent.
'Money is very important to Ronald. He is careful to the point of being stingy. He will chide her for buying expensive gifts for friends,' said a mutual friend.
'Jiawei is the complete opposite. She is very generous and is almost clueless about how to manage her finances. She gave him access to her safe and she was the one who paid for most of their dates,' added the friend.
It is understood that the monthly instalments for the couple's $80,000 Honda Civic were paid for by Susilo although she paid the downpayment, road tax and insurance. The car was registered in her name but he was the one using it as she does not drive. It has since been sold.
'Initially, they wanted to buy a BMW as he felt they were both sports stars and should not be seen driving a Japanese car. She changed her mind only after we stopped her,' said the friend.
He is also claiming that he had spent money on their apartment in Kembangan, including renovation costs. She had paid the six-figure downpayment for it.
Said another friend: 'She doesn't even know how to write a cheque as her English is bad. Whenever Ronald handed her a bill, for things such as road tax, she would simply give him cash to settle it. As a result, she has no proof that the money came from her.'
In last week's report, it was said that Li was already upset with Susilo after he handed over the keys to the apartment in January.
He had been living there alone for a while in December, while she lives in the Singapore Table Tennis Association dormitories in Toa Payoh.
A friend of Li's said: 'She was unhappy that some things were missing from the apartment, such as a TV cable, fridge magnets and even a $1.99 dishwashing detergent.'
According to this friend, Li had been wanting to break up with Susilo for a few years. But every time she tried to end the relationship, he would beg her to stay and she would relent.
Her friend added that Li realised he was not the man she wanted to be with when he suggested moving into the Kembangan apartment after they got married.
'Jiawei is a very traditional Chinese girl when it comes to these things. To her, the condo is her own investment. She feels that Ronald should buy a house, even if it's just an HDB flat, if he wants to marry her,' said the friend.
'But to him, since there is already an apartment, why waste money on another one?'
When he finally agreed to break up in January, one of the first things he apparently said to her via an SMS was: 'You have to give me money.'
Said the friend: 'When she saw his message, she sent an SMS to him, saying: 'This is one of the main reasons why I want to break up with you. You place too much emphasis on money'.'
http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20080413-59509.html
http://www.asiaone.com/specials/loveisover/images/main_rotator_2.jpg
I was blind.
This is what national paddler Li Jiawei has to say about her 51/2-year relationship with national shuttler Ronald Susilo, after it was reported that he is considering legal action against her to recover some $50,000 to $100,000.
She also told close friends that given what has happened, she does not regret breaking up with him at all.
In last week's Sunday Times report, sources said Susilo had contributed the amount to buy a car and condominium when they were together.
He consulted lawyers on the matter when Li started ignoring his calls after he handed the car over to her in February.
Li, 26, has since offered to resolve the matter through a mutually agreed third party.
Friends of the table tennis star said the latest development in what was once a fairy-tale romance has upset Li greatly.
'Jiawei feels very aggrieved that Ronald has taken this step. But this has only made her even more convinced that it was the right decision to end their relationship,' said a friend who declined to be named.
The couple parted ways in January. It was said to be an amicable separation at the time, but apparently there was much hostility in the break-up, as recent events reveal.
Sources said Li was having a break in Malaysia with some teammates when a friend alerted her via a text message about the Sunday Times report. She immediately burst into tears.
The China-born player, who came to Singapore when she was 14, was so shaken by the news that she even contemplated catching the next flight home to her parents in Beijing.
Said the source: 'But she soon calmed down and decided to return to Singapore to settle the matter. It is not her style to run away from problems. Besides, she told herself she has done nothing wrong.'
When contacted last Friday, the Indonesian-born Susilo, 28, said he would like to keep the matter private.
'I would also like to go on record that I did not approach any media to publish reports of Jiawei's relationship with me,' he added.
They started dating soon after they returned from the Manchester Commonwealth Games in 2002. But friends said cracks began appearing as early as 2003, when the couple's differing attitudes towards money became apparent.
'Money is very important to Ronald. He is careful to the point of being stingy. He will chide her for buying expensive gifts for friends,' said a mutual friend.
'Jiawei is the complete opposite. She is very generous and is almost clueless about how to manage her finances. She gave him access to her safe and she was the one who paid for most of their dates,' added the friend.
It is understood that the monthly instalments for the couple's $80,000 Honda Civic were paid for by Susilo although she paid the downpayment, road tax and insurance. The car was registered in her name but he was the one using it as she does not drive. It has since been sold.
'Initially, they wanted to buy a BMW as he felt they were both sports stars and should not be seen driving a Japanese car. She changed her mind only after we stopped her,' said the friend.
He is also claiming that he had spent money on their apartment in Kembangan, including renovation costs. She had paid the six-figure downpayment for it.
Said another friend: 'She doesn't even know how to write a cheque as her English is bad. Whenever Ronald handed her a bill, for things such as road tax, she would simply give him cash to settle it. As a result, she has no proof that the money came from her.'
In last week's report, it was said that Li was already upset with Susilo after he handed over the keys to the apartment in January.
He had been living there alone for a while in December, while she lives in the Singapore Table Tennis Association dormitories in Toa Payoh.
A friend of Li's said: 'She was unhappy that some things were missing from the apartment, such as a TV cable, fridge magnets and even a $1.99 dishwashing detergent.'
According to this friend, Li had been wanting to break up with Susilo for a few years. But every time she tried to end the relationship, he would beg her to stay and she would relent.
Her friend added that Li realised he was not the man she wanted to be with when he suggested moving into the Kembangan apartment after they got married.
'Jiawei is a very traditional Chinese girl when it comes to these things. To her, the condo is her own investment. She feels that Ronald should buy a house, even if it's just an HDB flat, if he wants to marry her,' said the friend.
'But to him, since there is already an apartment, why waste money on another one?'
When he finally agreed to break up in January, one of the first things he apparently said to her via an SMS was: 'You have to give me money.'
Said the friend: 'When she saw his message, she sent an SMS to him, saying: 'This is one of the main reasons why I want to break up with you. You place too much emphasis on money'.'
http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20080413-59509.html