Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SINGAPORE1912
2006-06-09 08:57:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Singapore
how-toVZCZCXRO3257 RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH DE RUEHGP #1912 1600857 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 090857Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0245 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SINGAPORE 001912
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV SN
SUBJECT: COURT RULES THAT SDP DEFAMED LEES
UNCLAS SINGAPORE 001912
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV SN
SUBJECT: COURT RULES THAT SDP DEFAMED LEES
1. (U) The High Court ruled on Thursday, June 8, that the
Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) had defamed Prime Minister
Lee Hsien Loong and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew in the
January edition of its newsletter. Lawyers for PM Lee and MM
Lee asserted that articles in the newsletter alleged that the
Lees had known about problems with the National Kidney
Foundation (the subject of a corruption and mismanagement
scandal last year) and tried to cover up these problems. SDP
did not file a defense in its case and was not represented
during the closed-door hearing on Wednesday, nor were any of
its leaders present at the hearing. Damages will be assessed
at a later hearing whose date has not yet been set, and if
SDP is unable to pay these damages, the party may be
dissolved.
2. (SBU) Central Executive Committee member Chee Siok Chin
told us that the committee is meeting tonight, June 9, to
discuss its approach. Chee stated that they expect damages
will be assessed in the amount of SG$250,000. In addition to
suing the SDP, PM Lee and MM Lee also sued the individual
members of SDP's Central Executive Committee. Six of those
committe members have apologized but two members -- Chee Soon
Juan and his sister Chee Siok Chin -- are contesting the suit
and filed their defense on May 10. They are being
represented by attorney M. Ravi, who represented Dr. Chee in
his contempt of court hearing earlier this year.
STANTON
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV SN
SUBJECT: COURT RULES THAT SDP DEFAMED LEES
1. (U) The High Court ruled on Thursday, June 8, that the
Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) had defamed Prime Minister
Lee Hsien Loong and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew in the
January edition of its newsletter. Lawyers for PM Lee and MM
Lee asserted that articles in the newsletter alleged that the
Lees had known about problems with the National Kidney
Foundation (the subject of a corruption and mismanagement
scandal last year) and tried to cover up these problems. SDP
did not file a defense in its case and was not represented
during the closed-door hearing on Wednesday, nor were any of
its leaders present at the hearing. Damages will be assessed
at a later hearing whose date has not yet been set, and if
SDP is unable to pay these damages, the party may be
dissolved.
2. (SBU) Central Executive Committee member Chee Siok Chin
told us that the committee is meeting tonight, June 9, to
discuss its approach. Chee stated that they expect damages
will be assessed in the amount of SG$250,000. In addition to
suing the SDP, PM Lee and MM Lee also sued the individual
members of SDP's Central Executive Committee. Six of those
committe members have apologized but two members -- Chee Soon
Juan and his sister Chee Siok Chin -- are contesting the suit
and filed their defense on May 10. They are being
represented by attorney M. Ravi, who represented Dr. Chee in
his contempt of court hearing earlier this year.
STANTON