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Singapore PM's lawyers seek "very high" damages in defamation case against blogger

Xinhua, July 1, 2015 Adjust font size:

The lawyers of Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong have asked the High Court for a very high award of damages in the defamation case against blogger Roy Ngerng, saying that Ngerng's actions have been deeply and intensely malicious.

Ngerng also remains determined to damage Lee's reputation, the lawyers added in an opening statement submitted to the court on Wednesday, at the start of a three-day hearing, the Straits Times reported.

Justice Lee Seiu Kin had ruled last November that Ngerng, 34, defamed Lee in a blog post on his blog The Heart Truths on May 15 last year by suggesting the prime minister misappropriated Central Provident Fund (CPF) savings.

This week's hearing is to assess the amount of damages Ngerng has to pay Lee.

Lee's lawyers noted that previous awards in defamation cases involving top government ministers ranged from 100,000 to 400,000 Singapore dollars (74,600 to 298,000 U.S. dollars), and argued that a higher amount should be awarded in this case given, among others, the extensive republication of the libel, Ngerng's egregious conduct, and his malice and continuing attacks against Lee.

"From the very first, the defendant set out to wound," Lee's lawyers were quoted as saying.

"He knowingly and maliciously published a false and vicious libel against the plaintiff to inflict maximum injury. He then cynically capitalized on, and continues to exploit, that libel and the ensuing lawsuit to promote himself as a champion of free speech."

Lee's lawyers said, "This case stands out for the depth and intensity of the defendant's malice toward the plaintiff and his resolve to damage the plaintiff's reputation."

The lawyers cited previous defamation cases to argue that allegations of corruption and criminal conduct "are grave charges", especially if made against the prime minister of a country.

"The case for a very high award of damages, including aggravated damages, is compelling," they added.

"I am sorry. I had no intent to defame you", defendant Roy Ngerng told plaintiff Lee Hsien Loong in the court, local TV Channel NewsAsia reported.

But the apology was "not sincere", Lee was quoted as saying. " The record contradicts that," he added, citing recent blogposts by Ngerng.

Supreme Court Justice Lee Seiu Kin permitted the line of questioning, allowing Ngerng's bid to prove that he did not display malice with the blogpost, a factor that the court said could be aggravating in deciding costs for damages.

The court heard that on May 30, Ngerng had offered to settle the damages for a sum of 10,000 Singapore dollars (7,460 U.S. dollars).

However, this was rejected by Lee as "derisory", due to a series of posts the blogger had published recently claiming he was being persecuted by Lee and the Singapore judiciary. Endi