Chee calls for hearing to be reconvened on IBA matter; press dead silent

Tuesday, 08 July 2008 Singapore Democrats

Dr Chee Soon Juan has written to the Supreme Court to ask for the assessment for damages hearing to be reconvened (see letter below). The hearing took place in May 08 in which Mr Lee Kuan Yew and Mr Lee Hsien Loong sued the Singapore Democrats for defamation.

During the hearing, Mr Lee testified that the International Bar Association (IBA) had written to the Law Society of Singapore (LSS) complimenting Singapore on "how successful the meeting was and how impressed they were by the standards they found to obtain in the judiciary." (See here)

The Singapore Democrats have received information, however, that no such letter was written. Dr Chee wrote to Mr Lee Kuan Yew's press secretary, Madam Yeong Yoon Ying, to produce a copy of the letter that Mr Lee claimed the IBA had written.

Madam Yeong has yet to respond. We hope that she will without further delay.

This matter is of utmost importance as the information was presented under oath by the Minister Mentor during cross-examination by Dr Chee. Mr Lee's testimony will go towards the amount of damages to be awarded to him and his son.

The defendants wish to get to the bottom of the matter so that Judge Belinda Ang will have a clear picture of the incident.

The sound of silence

Meanwhile in the newsrooms, our press people all buat bodoh (feigning ignorance). Since the release of the information about the missing IBA letter, SPH has refused to report on the matter.

Usually at about this stage the press would kick into high gear. Calls would be placed to the IBA and the LSS to confirm the information. If one party was caught out, the entire matter would be splashed across the pages and the headline, analysis piece, followed by op-ed after op-ed would all crucify the guilty party. And you can be sure that no story would be run without an uncomplimentary photograph/caricature or two of the prey.

That is, if that party is the SDP. But in this case Mr Lee is the subject of the controversy. Hence the ear-splitting silence.

Note how the press managed to get a hold of Tunku Abdul Aziz of Transparency International-Malaysia and Dr Peter Eigen's office at the Transparency International, in double quick time, over the award that Mr Aziz gave to Mr Lee.

But over this IBA incident none of our journalists seem interested to do a follow-up. Think about it. A simple call to the IBA would confirm whether Mr Lee was right or not. And it's not like the LSS is in another time zone, its office is right smack in the middle of South Bridge Road.

Maybe they did call and found out something that they would rather not know.

But such is the kind of journalism that Singaporeans have had to live with for decades. It is not just a disservice to the public, it is a danger.


Letter to the Supreme Court

Registrar
Supreme Court
Singapore

Court 4B: Judge Belinda Ang

Re: Suit Nos. 261 & 262 of 2006

Dear Sir,

I would like to apply for the hearing in the above matter to be reconvened. This is because one of the plaintiffs, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, has given evidence that may not be accurate.

Specifically, Mr Lee testified under oath that there was a letter written by the president of the International Bar Association (IBA) to the Law Society of Singapore (LSS) praising the Judiciary. The IBA has denied that they had sent such a letter and has also confirmed that the LSS has not received any such letter.

As Mr Lee's evidence has great impact on the determination of the amount of damages to be awarded, it is imperative that the hearing be reconvened so that parties can get to the bottom of the matter.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Chee Soon Juan

cc

Mr Davinder Singh
Drew & Napier

http://www.yoursdp.org/index.php/component/content/article/1-singapore/

press is silent probably because after all, man bites dog = news.. but if a man keeps biting a dog, after about 30 times, it's not news anymore..

What about Lee Kuan Yew attack others?

The press, the media are running dogs of the Lee Kuan Yew, leegime.    If they report this they are "commiting suicide".    I am looking forward to the day that the press and media are under the Lees no more.

I wish Dr Chee all the best in getting the proof of letter.   

This is the acid test whether MM Lee himself can stand up to his claim of his personal honesty and integrity especially when he has called CSJ liar in court without the presiding judge overruling or raising an eyebrow for such calling which is defamation of the first order right under the nose of the judge.

Rule of law he has aluded to so often to international audience clearly means justice must be done and seen to be done and those who accuse others should themselves come to the court to seek justice without blood stains on their own hands.

LKY can simply say anything he likes.

Hope his mouth rot!

interesting.

Originally posted by Hawk Eye:

LKY can simply say anything he likes.

 

Hope his mouth rot!

LKY is the great I am, the almighty one.   LKY is the law, the money, the dictator.

LKY's lawyer admits LKY's inaccuracy in court.

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Mr Singh noted that IBA president Fernando Pombo, in his speech at the opening of the grouping’s conference in Singapore on Oct 14 last year, had said that Singapore was picked as the venue for the meeting because of its “outstanding legal profession, an outstanding judiciary and an outstanding academic world in relation to the law”..

 “The only inaccuracy in Mr Lee’s testimony was his statement that the IBA had conveyed this view in a letter to the Law Society of Singapore, whereas it was actually in a public speech by the IBA president..

 “If anything, Mr Lee’s testimony did not do enough justice to the fact an international organisation like the IBA was prepared to and did publicly endorse the excellence of our Judiciary,” Mr Singh said. Dr Chee’s “desperate hunger for publicity to make a false point will only serve to waste the Court’s time.”

http://www.todayonline.com/articles/264225.asp

''Request to reconvene is frivolous: Davinder

OPPOSITION politician Chee Soon Juan has asked the Supreme Court to reconvene a hearing on the assessment for damages relating to a defamation suit to be reconvened, alleging that Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew “has given evidence that may not be accurate”.

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H:owever, the request has been described as “frivolous and misleading” by Mr Lee’s lawyer, Senior Counsel Davinder Singh.

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In his letter dated July 8, Dr Chee pointed to Mr Lee’s reference during the May court hearing that the president of the International Bar Association had written a letter to the Law Society of Singapore, praising the Judiciary.

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However, Dr Chee, said both organisations had denied the existence of such a letter. Since Mr Lee’s evidence has “great impact” on the amount of damages to be awarded, “it is imperative that the hearing be reconvened”, Dr Chee added.

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In his reply to the Supreme Court’s Registrar yesterday, Mr Singh described Dr Chee’s request as “frivolous” because “the views of the International Bar Association about our Judiciary have absolutely no bearing on the question of damages”.

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The “only reason” that Mr Lee had referred to the IBA’s endorsement “was to demolish” Dr Chee’s “baseless suggestion in open court that there is no rule of law in Singapore”.

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Mr Singh noted that Dr Chee had, in his letter, “sought to convey the false impression that, contrary to Mr Lee’s evidence, the IBA did not praise the Singapore Judiciary”. In fact, Mr Singh added, “as was the point of Mr Lee’s evidence, the IBA stated that our Judiciary is outstanding’.”

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Mr Singh noted that IBA president Fernando Pombo, in his speech at the opening of the grouping’s conference in Singapore on Oct 14 last year, had said that Singapore was picked as the venue for the meeting because of its “outstanding legal profession, an outstanding judiciary and an outstanding academic world in relation to the law”.

.

“The only inaccuracy in Mr Lee’s testimony was his statement that the IBA had conveyed this view in a letter to the Law Society of Singapore, whereas it was actually in a public speech by the IBA president.

.

“If anything, Mr Lee’s testimony did not do enough justice to the fact an international organisation like the IBA was prepared to and did publicly endorse the excellence of our Judiciary,” Mr Singh said. Dr Chee’s “desperate hunger for publicity to make a false point will only serve to waste the Court’s time.”

<!--[endif]-->

lionnoisy, can you answer why LKY testimony got inaccuracy?

Originally posted by lionnoisy:

 

LKY's lawyer admits LKY's inaccuracy in court.

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 “The only inaccuracy in Mr Lee’s testimony was his statement that the IBA had conveyed this view in a letter to the Law Society of Singapore, whereas it was actually in a public speech by the IBA president..

 “If anything, Mr Lee’s testimony did not do enough justice to the fact an international organisation like the IBA was prepared to and did publicly endorse the excellence of our Judiciary,” Mr Singh said. Dr Chee’s “desperate hunger for publicity to make a false point will only serve to waste the Court’s time.”

http://www.todayonline.com/articles/264225.asp

 

''Request to reconvene is frivolous: Davinder

<!--[endif]-->

Having admitted that LKY was not right or inaccurate in saying he has received a letter from IBA in this manner in a court testimony, will be correct the inaccuracy will he recognise that this is now a court case and it is up to the judge and not his own council to decide whether this inaccuracy was material or immaterial to such a hearing of defamation suit against CSJ.

Remember, LKY has refused to let Gomez get away from legality over a election nomination form. If he wants rule of law then he himself must show he is also subjected to the same rule of law.