Lee Hsien Yang, brother of former Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, has been directed by the High Court to compensate SGD 200,000 (equivalent to Rs 1.2 crore) to each of the Indian-origin ministers, K Shanmugam and Vivian Balakrishnan, in a defamation case related to their occupancy of state properties in an upscale neighborhood of Singapore.
In a ruling issued on Friday, Justice Goh Yihan elucidated the rationale behind awarding damages to the two ministers, who had individually pursued defamation claims against Lee Hsien Yang, the youngest son of Singapore's founding Prime Minister, the Late Lee Kuan Yew.
The legal action stemmed from comments made by Lee Hsien Yang on his Facebook page on July 23, 2023, implying corrupt practices by the ministers in securing preferential treatment from the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) for renting Ridout Road properties.
Lee, presently not in Singapore, also insinuated a loss of trust in the People’s Action Party (PAP), pointing to alleged leadership shortcomings of then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
The defamation suits were prompted by Lee's allegations, made despite findings from the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) that no irregularities or preferential treatment had occurred.
Lee's failure to appear in court or provide legal representation led Justice Goh to conclude that he deliberately refrained from responding to the allegations. Consequently, Lee was unable to contest his liability for defamation during the assessment of damages, and the judge proceeded based on the claimants' submissions.
Justice Goh underscored the ministers' esteemed public stature and Lee's considerable social media following as factors warranting higher damages. He further ascertained Lee's malicious intent in disseminating the defamatory statements, justifying both increased and aggravated damages.
Citing past defamation cases involving Cabinet members or prime ministers, Justice Goh determined the damages, which, along with additional costs, Lee is obligated to pay to the ministers.
This legal outcome underscores the gravity of making defamatory allegations against public figures and serves as a testament to the Singaporean judicial system's commitment to upholding integrity and accountability in public discourse.
