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Lee Hsien Loong v Leong Sze Hian [2021] SGHC 66 Davinder Singh s/o Amar Singh SC, Lin Xianyang Timothy, Fong Cheng Yee, David, Darveenia Rajula Rajah, and Shannon Valencia Peh (Davinder Singh Chambers LLC) for the plaintiff; Lim Tean (Carson Law Chambers) for the defendant. 69

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Lee Hsien Loong v. Leong Sze Hian

Case Law

Country

Singapore

Country Location

Latitude: 1.352083

Longitude: 103.819836

Country Location (linked Case Law): Singapore

Decision Date: Mar 24, 2021

Case Status: Closed

Case Outcome (Procedural)

Admissible
Motion Granted

Case Outcome (Disposition)

Injunction, Order, or Motion Granted

Keywords

Defamation / Reputation
Public Officials

Judicial Body: First Instance Court

Court Name: High Court of Singapore

Case Number: [2021] SGHC 66

Case Summary: On March 24, 2021, the High Court of Singapore directed Mr. Leong Sze Hian, a columnist, to pay Mr. Lee Hsien Loong, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, the sum of S$133,000 in a suit of defamation. Mr. Hian had shared an article titled “Breaking News: Singapore Lee Hsien Loong Becomes 1MDB’s Key Investigation Target – Najib Signed Several Unfair Agreements with Hsien Loong In Exchange For Money Laundering” on Facebook. The judge opined that the article’s headline implied that the plaintiff and Mr. Najib had made a number of “unfair” agreements which were the result of a quid pro quo with the plaintiff providing the assistance of Singapore banks in laundering stolen money. The judge consequently determined that the article insinuated that the plaintiff was involved in criminal activities. The court also held that the publication by the defendant occurred even if the defamatory statements were made available online by sharing an article and the defamatory material was received by a third party.

Case Significance: This decision restricts the freedom of speech and expression. The court lays emphasis on the damages claimed by the plaintiff, as well as on the reputation of Loong as the political leader of Singapore, and overriding the freedom of speech and expression of the defendant in a case otherwise made against the defendant. Such a reconsideration, resulting in a return to historical standards of the common law of libel, would be at odds with current international standards, which require public officials to tolerate a higher level of criticism on issues of public importance, and overturning the standard could have a substantial chilling effect on public discourse.

The decision establishes a binding or persuasive precedent within its jurisdiction.

Related Caselaw (self)

Singapore

Source URL: Global Freedom of Expression

Collection

CIPIT
Columbia

Date Updated: Oct 30, 2023

Primary Documents

Lee Hsien Loong v. Leong Sze Hian .pdf
English
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CYRILLA: Global Digital Rights Law

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Lee Hsien Loong v. Leong Sze Hian

Primary Documents

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