SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew are expected to take the stand in Singapore's High Court next week.

The hearing is to assess the damages they are claiming against the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) and its leaders.

Both Mr Lee Hsien Loong and Mr Lee Kuan Yew won their defamation suit against the SDP for defamatory remarks in the SDP publication "The New Democrat" after they obtained a summary judgement from the court.

The defamatory remarks were contained in an article - both in English and Mandarin - about the National Kidney Foundation scandal in April 2006 that was published at the height of the 2006 General Election.

Lawyers from Drew and Napier, who will represent the two Singapore leaders, confirmed they will appear before Justice Belinda Ang during the three days set aside for the hearing to determine the quantum of damages to be awarded.

Besides the two Singapore leaders, several journalists are also expected to take the stand.

The article in question was headlined: "Govt's Role In The NKF Scandal". A captioned photograph in the publication - which showed a group of protesters outside the CPF Building holding a placard and wearing T-shirts with the words "HDB, GIC, NKF and CPF" - was also singled out as having caused offence.

PM Lee had argued that in their ordinary meaning and innuendo, both the words and the photograph alleged that he is dishonest and unfit for office.

The SDP also alleged that as Prime Minister, Mr Lee perpetuated a corrupt political system for the benefit of the political elite.

These allegations were based on the premise that the government had access to the information, which has now been unearthed about the NKF, but concealed it to avoid criticism.

Similarly, Mr Lee Kuan Yew argued that the words and photograph implied that like the PM, the Minister Mentor is also dishonest and unfit for office.

Another allegation was that Mr Lee Kuan Yew had managed the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) in a corrupt manner.

Meanwhile in a separate case, lawyers for both PM Lee and MM Lee will be arguing in the High Court to grant them a summary judgement in their case against the Far Eastern Economic Review (FEER).

FEER and its editor are being sued for defamation by the two leaders for an article published in July 2006 about the National Kidney Foundation saga.

Lawyers for PM Lee and MM Lee claim the article had set out to disparage the leaders. The hearing for this case, also fixed for next week, is before Justice Woo Bih Li. - CNA/ir