Singapore's leaders defamed by Hong Kong magazine: court
SINGAPORE (AFP) — A banned Hong Kong-based magazine and its editor defamed Singapore's founding father Lee Kuan Yew and his son, the High Court has ruled in the latest judgement here against government critics.
Justice Woo Bih Li, in a decision obtained Wednesday by AFP, ruled that the Far Eastern Economic Review (FEER) defamed the elder Lee and his son, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
The court will assess damages later. FEER said it was considering an appeal.
Singaporean leaders have won hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages in defamation cases against critics and foreign publications, which they say are necessary to protect their reputations from unfounded attacks.
The Lees sued the magazine's editor Hugo Restall and Hong Kong-based Review Publishing, its owners, alleging defamation in a 2006 article based on an interview with Chee Soon Juan, an opposition party leader.
The article entitled "Singapore's 'Martyr,' Chee Soon Juan," described the Singapore Democratic Party secretary general's battle against the ruling People's Action Party and its leaders.
In the article, Restall also touched on the success of Singapore officials in libel suits against critics.
Dismissing objections by the defendants' lawyers, Woo issued his decision by summary judgment, meaning no trial was held.
In his 106-page judgment Woo said "the disputed words suggest corruption on the part of" the elder Lee and meant that "he has been using libel actions to suppress those who would question to avoid exposure of his corruption."
Woo wrote that the words had a similar meaning with respect to the prime minister.
He rejected the magazine's argument that the article made "fair comment" on matters of public interest, and that the comment was based on facts.
"It seems to me that the disputed words do not distinguish clearly between facts and comments," the judge said.
He also rejected the magazine's argument that it was merely reflecting the views of Chee Soon Juan, and also threw out its defence of "public interest privilege."
FEER argued the article was a serious contribution to discussion of Singapore governance and was published with journalistic responsibility.
In a statement, FEER expressed disappointment with the ruling.
"It is notable that the court has determined that the public interest privilege that is available in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries, is not applicable in Singapore," FEER said.
"We are considering an appeal."
The magazine's lawyer, Peter Low, refused comment when contacted by AFP.
The city-state banned distribution of FEER in September 2006, saying it had failed to comply with media regulations.
Earlier this month Singapore's attorney-general's office initiated contempt charges against The Wall Street Journal Asia and two editors over editorials and a letter by Chee Soon Juan, which allegedly cast doubt on the integrity of the judiciary.
Officials said the newspaper's publisher, Dow Jones Publishing Company (Asia), Inc, international editor Daniel Hertzberg and managing editor Christine Glancey face charges.
FEER is also under the umbrella of Dow Jones.
Last October, London's Financial Times newspaper apologised to Lee Kuan Yew and other members of his family and agreed to pay damages for false allegations in a column about sovereign wealth funds.
In a speech last year, Lee said Singapore was built on the rule of law and did not tolerate corruption, in contrast to the surrounding region where "money politics" was a way of life.
