Singapore: A Singapore opposition party, its bankrupt chief and his sister were today ordered to pay more than USD 414,000 in damages to the country s leaders for defaming them by a court.

The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), its secretary general Chee Soon Juan and his sister, a party member who is also bankrupt, had earlier been found guilty of defaming the city-state s founding father Lee Kuan Yew and his son, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Justice Belinda Ang Saw Ean awarded premier Lee USD 224,000 US in damages, and 280,000 to his father over allegations of government corruption made in a SDP newsletter ahead of general elections in May 2006.

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.

"In the present actions, there were serious allegations of corruption, dishonesty, nepotism and financial impropriety which the defendants persisted in maintaining without foundation to the end," Ang wrote in a 157-page decision.

The libel struck "at the core of the plaintiffs life achievements and personalities," Ang said.

"As such, they were attacks on the core attributes of each plaintiff's political reputation, personal integrity and personality.

"In my judgements, the more serious and the graver the allegations made against the plaintiffs, the more the public is misinformed and the plaintiffs harmed since the allegations are not true," her decision said.
Source : PTI