Lao Huo Tang and Kenny Rogers Face Court Over Unpaid CPF Contributions

Court Directs Lao Huo Tang F&B to Pay Over $25,000 Before October Hearing

A company representative appeared in court on Sept 29 and requested another four weeks to settle the payments. When asked by the court how much the firm could manage during that timeframe, the representative offered $13,000. The prosecution countered by highlighting that $25,986 remained unpaid specifically for the months of June and July alone. The court granted a final adjournment to Oct 27, directing Lao Huo Tang F&B to clear the $25,986 balance before the next mention. Lao Huo Tang, known for its herbal soups and Chinese dishes, operates outlets at locations including Causeway Point, Sun Plaza, Jurong Point, Marina Square, The Star Vista, and NEX. The brand declined to comment when approached by The Straits Times. Two other entities, Lao Huo Tang Group and Lao Huo Tang Restaurant, are scheduled to appear in the same court on Oct 6.

Kenny Rogers Restaurant Operators Face Related Arrears

Two separate companies operating Kenny Rogers restaurants also appeared in the State Courts on Sept 29 to address unpaid CPF contributions. Kenny Rogers Roasters is listed on the Lao Huo Tang Group website as part of its “family of brands”, operating outlets in Singapore at Downtown East, Marina Square, and The Clementi Mall. Kenny Rogers F&B was previously under the same ownership as Lao Huo Tang Group, with both entities wholly owned by Soup Empire Holdings. Ownership has since shifted, and Kenny Rogers F&B is now wholly owned by Hong Meng Loong, who also serves as the company secretary for Lao Huo Tang F&B. The court heard that Kenny Rogers F&B owed $25,294 in CPF contributions for June, July, and August. The business had paid a $3,000 composition amount but missed an earlier direction to pay $13,000 toward its arrears. When questioned by the judge whether the firm could clear the remaining $25,294 within four weeks, a company representative stated it “should be able to”. The judge set a final adjournment for Oct 27, warning that the court will proceed to take the company’s plea if the arrears are not cleared beforehand.

Marina Square Outlet Faces Additional Outstanding Filings

A separate legal matter involved Kenny Rogers (Marina Square), which had paid $7,156 toward its CPF arrears for June through August, leaving $2,236 outstanding for August. The prosecution noted that this specific case had already been adjourned twice and that an additional $3,000 composition amount remained unpaid. The company requested another four weeks to fulfill the payment, prompting the judge to order the settlement of both the outstanding CPF contributions and the composition amount prior to the Oct 27 hearing. In addition to the CPF matters, the court reviewed a separate case involving Kenny Rogers (Marina Square) and the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore on Sept 29. Records showed the company failed to submit a required filing by its due date in 2026. Although the filing has since been completed, a $2,000 composition sum remains unpaid, leading the court to adjourn that case to Oct 27 as well.