Defamation Showdown: Blogger Hits the Bench for 1MDB Mishap
The Case Basics
In a nutshell, Singapore’s High Court handed blogger and financial‑advisor Leong Sze Hian a hefty bill: $133,000 for slapping former PM Lee Hsien Loong with a 1MDB scandal sticker that turned out to be pure fiction.
Who’s Involved
- Leong Sze Hian – the accused, who shared a dubious article on his Facebook.
- Lee Hsien Loong – Singapore’s Prime Minister, the target of the false claim.
- Justice Aedit Abdullah – the judge who delivered the verdict.
The Court Story
Leong posted a piece from Malaysia’s The Coverage, claiming PM Lee was entangled in the 1MDB corruption scandal. The court, in its writing, found him acting with “reckless disregard” – basically, he didn’t bother to double‑check the truth before shouting it out loud.
Result? A damages split:
- $100,000 for general harm.
- $33,000 for aggravated hurt.
The judge noted that Leong’s lack of apology and the big‑hearted way he pushed the false jab added a “little extra flavour” of malice to the mix.
Why It Matters
Senior counsel for PM Lee had hoped for a heftier bill of $150,000—mirroring a prior case where blogger Roy Ngerng was fined heavily. However, the judge stopped short, citing a “limited basis” for such a hefty amount. He pointed out that the situation didn’t involve a knowingly false post or a stubborn defiant stance against evidence.
PM Lee’s Response
PM Lee’s press secretary, Chang Li Lin, was quick to say the matter was settled by the judge. “Nothing more to add,” she remarked—echoing a common press brief style: short, sharp, and to the point.
Takeaway
Lesson learned: Check your sources before you post. No audience likes a headline that turns out to be a headline made of disappointment.
