Two Indian origin cabiner ministers sued Prime ministers brother in Singapore
Two Indian origin cabinet ministers of Singapore, Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam and Foreign Minister V. Balakrishnan, sued Lee Hsien Yang for defamation following Mr.Yang”s comment on two 100 year old rental bungalows of colonial-era.
The ministers took step to sue Mr.Yang after his post on facebook accusing them of corruption over their rental bungalow 26 and 31 Rideout Road. These bungalows are 100 years old and is situated in Rideout park area.
The ministers stated that Mr. Yang accused them of corruption by having Singapore Land Authority (SLA) give them advategeous treatment like paying rent for 26 and 31 Rideout Road.
Asseverating Mr.Yang”s claims are false, Mr. Shanmugam and Mr.Balakrishnan sent lawyers to Mr.Yang in july seeking an apology for defamation.
“If he does not do so, we will sue him”, they posted on their facebook posts on july 27th.
“My post simply stated the facts that were already widely published in Singapore and international media” replied Mr.Yang.
“My post was made in U.K, if K Shanmugam and V. Balakrishnan believe that they have a real case, then they should sue me in the UK” he added.
The Rideout property issue was first taken up by the opposition politician and reform party chief Kenneth Jeyarathnam in May probing into if the two ministers were “paying less than the fair market value” for the two state-owned properties.
After Corrupt Paractices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) and a review by senior minister Teo Chee Hean , Mr. Shanmugam and Mr.Balakrishnan were found bereft of wrongdoings on the issue.
According to Singapore courts website, the case conference will be held on September 5.
Lee Hsein Yang is the younger son of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and younger brother of Prime Minister Lee Hsein Loong. He left Singapore after found lying during imvestigation regarding Wills of his late father Lee Kuan Yew.
