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