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SINGAPORE: The High Court on Tuesday set time limits on the cross-examination of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew during the hearing to assess the amount of damages to be awarded to the two Singapore leaders in their defamation suit against the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP).
This was to ensure questions stayed relevant, and it came after several delays and what Senior Counsel Davinder Singh said was the SDP trying to "turn the court into a political theatre".
Mr Singh, acting for PM Lee and MM Lee, would not allow the SDP to repeat what he called its 'delaying tactics' seen in court on Monday. Justice Belinda Ang agreed with Mr Singh that the SDP defendants should not be allowed to insult both his clients under the guise of cross-examination. Hence, time limits or guillotine times were set.
However, when PM Lee took the stand, he had little opportunity to reply, as objections were raised repeatedly against SDP leader Dr Chee Soon Juan's line of questioning, which was deemed as irrelevant.
The Prime Minister did reply to a question from Dr Chee who asked if he knew what was on Dr Chee's mind.
Mr Lee replied that Dr Chee's mind was of one who has been repeatedly exposed as a liar and cheat, harboured deep-seated resentment and been cut down to size and hence wanted revenge.
The Lees have already won a summary judgement against the SDP, its secretary-general Dr Chee and his sister Chee Siok Chin.
The two leaders had sued over allegations of government corruption made in an article published in the SDP newsletter, The New Democrat, ahead of general elections in May 2006.
In assessing damages, the court usually has to look at the extent to which the defamation was carried.
Senior Counsel Davinder Singh noted that the SDP had suggested during the hearing that only 5,000 copies of The New Democrat carrying the defamatory article had been circulated.
Ms Chee had made this point as she contrasted the circulation with Singapore's population of 4.6 million.
However, PM Lee said the 5,000-copy circulation was not a good measure, as each copy would have been circulated to several people.
The article was also carried on the SDP website, and SDP leaders had broadcast the points made during the sales of the newsletter at housing estates.
Hence the lawyers for the Singapore leaders urged the High Court to award substantial damages, though they did not want to specify a sum.
In 2005, Mr Lee Kuan Yew was awarded S$200,000 in damages for defamation by Dr Chee during the 2001 General Elections, and the then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong was awarded S$220,000.
Mr Singh said "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".
Minister Mentor Lee takes the stand
When Minister Mentor Lee took the stand later Tuesday, Dr Chee continued in the same vein - asking questions which Mr Lee's lawyer had to constantly object to as irrelevant.
Dr Chee alleged that Mr Lee had made it difficult for the opposition to compete on equal footing. MM Lee's reply was that no government in any country helps to build the opposition.
He contrasted Dr Chee with opposition MPs Low Thia Khiang and Chiam See Tong. MM Lee said that despite fierce competition from the PAP, Mr Low and Mr Chiam were successfully re-elected and did so without defaming anyone.
MM Lee even suggested that with Dr Chee's eloquence, he perhaps had a better chance than the two opposition MPs if only he could follow the Constitution and establish credibility.
MM Lee even advised Dr Chee to find a way to pay up the damages awarded in his suits - like what veteran opposition politician JB Jeyaretnam did - and not mute himself politically as an undischarged bankrupt.
Dr Chee still questioned MM Lee on Singapore's human rights record - even though this had no bearing on Tuesday's hearing - and the country's ratings by agencies like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.
MM Lee told the court that the agencies are liberal organisations which disagree with the way Singapore runs its social system.
However, the Singapore government believes it knows better, otherwise it will not be where it is today. The final test for Singapore is not in the ratings, but the lives of the people and what Singapore is, said MM Lee.
Four journalists were expected to take the stand on Tuesday. But Mr Singh decided not to call upon them as their evidence was already included in the Prime Minister and Minister Mentor's affidavits, which were not challenged by the defendants.
The hearing will continue, while the cross-examination of the two leaders has ended. - CNA/ir
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