Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong Takes the Stand in High‑Court Defamation Battle
The High Court’s docket is heating up this October as Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong steps into the witness box to defend himself in a defamation case against financial advisor Leong Sze Hian. The trial will kick off on 6th October and run through the 9th, following a pre‑trial meeting with Justice Aedit Abdullah on 31 August.
What’s Happening at the Trial?
- The Prime Minister will give his testimony and endure cross‑examination.
- Leong’s lawyer, Mr Lim Tean, announced in a Facebook post that PM Lee will call on Dr Tuan Quang Phan as an expert witness.
- Dr Phan, an associate professor at Hong Kong University Business School, will speak via video link from Hong Kong.
- Senior Counsel Davinder Singh of Davinder Singh Chambers will represent Mr Lee.
Why Is Lee In It?
Back in November 2018, Leong shared a Facebook post linking to a news article from the Malaysian outlet The Coverage. The piece accused former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak of signing “secret deals” with Singapore banks—funds that were supposedly linked to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB)—to launder money. Lee brushed the allegations as “false and baseless” and claimed the post was “malicious” and intended to damage him.
Lee’s legal team is asking for aggravated damages and an injunction – preventing Leong from republishing any defamatory or related claims about the 1MDB saga.
Leong’s Counter‑Move
In a twist, Leong denies being malicious. He says he removed his Facebook post just three days after the initial publication, following instructions from the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA). Leong argues the article discussed a public‑interest issue—the close scrutiny of 1MDB—and should be considered factual, regardless of its correctness.
Leong also filed a counter‑claim against Lee, alleging that the case is an abuse of court process. The Singapore High Court struck this claim in March last year, ruling that “abuse of court process” isn’t a recognized ground for an action in Singapore. The decision was subsequently upheld by the Court of Appeal in September.
What to Expect
The defense will aim to show that the post was simply a public‑interest discussion and not a malice‑filled attack. Meanwhile, the prosecution will press for proof that Lee’s name was being defamed to trigger the injunction and damages.
For now, the public is eager to see how the Prime Minister will stand up, his calm demeanor versus the sharp scrutiny of the judges. Will the case be about facts or politics? Stay tuned for the courtroom drama that’s sure to shake up Singapore’s legal scene.
