Singapore's Indian-origin Ministers sue PM's brother over state-owned bungalow rental issue
The Hindu
Two Indian-origin Ministers, Shanmugam and Balakrishnan, sue Lee Hsien Yang for defamation over allegations of preferential treatment in renting two state-owned bungalows.
Singapore's two Indian-origin cabinet Ministers have sued Lee Hsien Yang, the younger brother of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, for defamation over allegations relating to their rental of two state-owned bungalows.
The case conference will take place on Tuesday (September 5) at 9 am, according to a hearing list on the Singapore Courts' website, Channel News Asia reported on Saturday.
The two ministers - Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam and Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan - had sent lawyers' letters to Lee Hsien Yang in July, saying they would sue unless he apologises, withdraws his allegations and pays damages relating to the colonial-era bungalows in Ridout Road.
In a Facebook post on July 27, Shanmugam said Lee Hsien Yang had accused him and Balakrishnan of "acting corruptly and for personal gain by having Singapore Land Authority (SLA) give us preferential treatment by illegally felling trees without approval, and also having SLA pay for renovations to 26 and 31 Ridout Road".
These allegations are false, Mr. Shanmugam added.
Lee Hsien Yang and his wife left the country after declining to attend a police interview in July 2022 that relates to lying in judicial proceedings about the will of his late father and founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.
Mr. Shanmugam says he rented Ridout Road property to prepare for sale of family home, not profiting from rental.
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