Defamation suit protects Singapore ministers' standing
Singaporean ministers K. Shanmugam and Tan See Leng successfully sued Bloomberg for defamation regarding an article about property transactions. The court awarded each minister $230,000 in damages, affirming that the report was malicious and harmed their professional reputations.
Why it matters
Highlights the intersection of press freedom, legal accountability, and the protection of public officials' reputations in Singapore.
Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam (left) and Manpower Minister Tan See Leng (right) had sued Bloomberg and its reporter Low De Wei over a December 2024 article on GCB transactions in Singapore.
Listen SINGAPORE - The defamation suit against Bloomberg and its reporter had been initiated to protect the standing of their ministerial offices, said Cabinet ministers K. Shanmugam and Tan See Leng on July 14.
Shanmugam, who is Coordinating Minister for National Security, said the publication and the journalist had published malicious statements which attacked the standing of the ministerial office and them as senior public leaders.
He added: “This is why I chose to bring defamation proceedings despite having to subject myself to public scrutiny and cross-examination in court.
“If irresponsible outlets like Bloomberg get away with publishing lies and falsehoods about public officers, it will set a new norm.
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