Lee Kuan Yew v Chee Soon Juan: Defamation Damages Assessment - Alleged Mishandling of National Funds
In Lee Kuan Yew v Chee Soon Juan, the High Court of Singapore assessed damages for defamation. Lee Kuan Yew sued Chee Soon Juan for statements made during the 2001 Parliamentary General Elections, alleging the mishandling of national funds. The court found Chee Soon Juan's statements defamatory and awarded Lee Kuan Yew $200,000 in damages, considering the severity of the slander, the parties' standing, the extent of publication, and Chee Soon Juan's conduct.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
High Court1.2 Outcome
Judgment for Plaintiff
1.3 Case Type
Civil
1.4 Judgment Type
Judgment reserved
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
Defamation case where Lee Kuan Yew sued Chee Soon Juan for alleging mishandling of funds. The court assessed damages, awarding $200,000 to Lee Kuan Yew.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chee Soon Juan | Defendant | Individual | Lost | Lost | |
| Lee Kuan Yew | Plaintiff | Individual | Judgment for Plaintiff | Won |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Kan Ting Chiu | Judge | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Davinder Singh | Drew and Napier LLC |
| Nicolas Tang | Drew and Napier LLC |
| Hri Kumar | Drew and Napier LLC |
4. Facts
- Defendant alleged plaintiff mishandled nation's funds at an election rally.
- Plaintiff instructed solicitors to demand an apology and compensation.
- Defendant initially complied with demands, issuing an apology.
- Defendant later failed to pay compensation and costs.
- Plaintiff brought an action for defamation.
- Defendant resisted the claim, alleging duress and intimidation.
- Defendant did not attend the assessment hearing.
5. Formal Citations
- Lee Kuan Yew v Chee Soon Juan (No 2), Suit 1459/2001, [2005] SGHC 2
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Defendant spoke at an election rally at Nee Soon Central | |
| Plaintiff's solicitors informed the defendant that he had falsely accused the plaintiff | |
| Defendant read out an apology at a rally at Jurong East | |
| Apology published in The Straits Times and Today newspapers | |
| SAR entered interlocutory judgment for the plaintiff | |
| Parties attended before an assistant registrar for directions for the assessment of damages | |
| Parties ordered to file their lists of documents relating to damages | |
| Parties ordered to file and serve their affidavits of evidence-in-chief | |
| Defendant informed the Registrar he would be away on a fellowship in the United States | |
| Plaintiff's solicitors wrote to the Registrar to seek an appointment to fix hearing dates for the assessment of damages | |
| Solicitors for the plaintiff attended before the assistant registrar; assessment of damages fixed for hearing on 6 to 8 September 2004 | |
| Notice of appointment for the hearing issued to defendant | |
| Defendant informed the Registrar he would return to Singapore only in September 2004 | |
| Parties informed to come before Justice Kan Ting Chiu for directions | |
| Assessment of damages proceeded in defendant's absence | |
| Parties ordered to make their written submissions | |
| Parties ordered to make their replies | |
| Defendant wrote to the Chief Justice to request for the hearing to be reconvened | |
| Parties came before Justice Kan Ting Chiu | |
| Defendant filed the affidavit out of time | |
| Judgment reserved |
7. Legal Issues
- Defamation
- Outcome: The court found that the defendant defamed the plaintiff.
- Category: Substantive
- Assessment of Damages
- Outcome: The court assessed damages and awarded $200,000 to the plaintiff.
- Category: Procedural
8. Remedies Sought
- Damages
- Compensation
- Costs
9. Cause of Actions
- Defamation
10. Practice Areas
- Litigation
11. Industries
- Politics
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tang Liang Hong v Lee Kuan Yew | Court of Appeal | Yes | [1998] 1 SLR 97 | Singapore | Cited for the principle that damages for defamation should not rise steadily and significantly over time. |
| Goh Chok Tong v Jeyaretnam Joshua Benjamin | Court of Appeal | Yes | [1998] 3 SLR 337 | Singapore | Cited as a useful guide on the assessment of damages in defamation cases, particularly concerning the standing of the parties and the severity of the defamatory statements. |
| Horrocks v Lowe | N/A | Yes | [1975] AC 135 | N/A | Cited for the authority on malice, as Mr Jeyaretnam had made the statement recklessly, without considering or caring whether it be true or not. |
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| No applicable rules |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| No applicable statutes | |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Defamation
- Damages
- Assessment of damages
- Senior Minister
- Singapore Democratic Party
- Parliamentary General Elections
- Apology
- Compromise
- Duress
- Intimidation
15.2 Keywords
- defamation
- damages
- Lee Kuan Yew
- Chee Soon Juan
- Singapore
- High Court
- assessment
- funds
- mishandling
- apology
17. Areas of Law
| Area Name | Relevance Score |
|---|---|
| Defamation | 95 |
| Assessment of Damages | 80 |
| Civil Procedure | 70 |
| Measure of Damages | 60 |
16. Subjects
- Defamation
- Damages Assessment
- Civil Litigation