| |
SINGAPORE : Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong took the witness stand at the High Court on Monday in his case to claim damages against the opposition Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) and its leaders - Chee Soon Juan and his sister Chee Siok Chin.
Mr Lee and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew are taking the SDP to task for an article in "The Democrat" - the party's publication in 2006 - about the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) saga.
In court on Monday, PM Lee said all he is seeking is to establish that the article had published lies.
Mr Lee also stressed on the integrity and competence of the Singapore government. He said it is not a government "based on power and greed", as claimed by the SDP.
He told the court the whole government had been defamed because of what had been published, and this had a "very far reaching" effect.
Mr Lee said the article had implied that the mistake made by the NKF epitomised what the whole government had stood for. This was a very grave charge and action had to be taken to defend the entire system.
The prime minister said that the lawsuit was not about money but about "putting a stop to poisonous lies and to establish the truth".
Senior Counsel Davinder Singh has urged the High Court to award substantial damages to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew.
Mr Davinder is defending the Prime Minister and Minister Mentor Lee in their defamation case against the Singapore Democratic Party and its leaders.
In his opening statement, Mr Davinder said the court can and should express, "in the strongest terms, its indignation at the conduct of Dr Chee Soon Juan and his sister Chee Siok Chin".
He said there must be no doubt in anybody's mind that, "in publishing the article in 'The New Democrat' in February 2006, the defendants had lied, and lied again."
Mr Davinder added that "even if damages cannot be fully recovered from the defendants due to their bankruptcy, a ruling for substantial damages will go a long way towards vindication".
He stressed that the case was unprecedented for its array of false allegations, and perhaps "the gravest defamation that has ever been considered by a Singapore court".
The hearing has adjourned till May 27 when SDP chief Chee Soon Juan will continue with his cross examination of PM Lee.
The High Court has already given the prime minister and the minister mentor a summary judgement in their defamation suit against the SDP. - CNA /ls
|
