Blogger Roy Ngerng apologises to PM Lee for defamatory post

Blogger Roy Ngerng apologises to PM Lee for defamatory post

SINGAPORE - A Singaporean blogger accused by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of defamation apologised Friday, but rejected the premier's demand to pay compensation.

Roy Ngerng Yi Ling, a 33-year-old healthcare worker, had posted an article on May 15 that was seen as accusing Lee of corruption.

But in a blog post Friday, Ngerng said the article had contained an allegation against Lee that was "false and completely without foundation".

"I unreservedly apologise to Mr Lee Hsien Loong for the distress and embarrassment caused to him by this allegation," wrote Ngerng.

Lee's lawyer Davinder Singh wrote to Ngerng on Sunday demanding an apology and compensation, saying the article implied that "Lee Hsien Loong, the Prime Minister of Singapore and the chairman of GIC, is guilty of criminal misappropriation of the monies paid by Singaporeans to the CPF (Central Provident Fund)".

GIC is a sovereign wealth fund that manages more than S$125.2 billion of the city-state's foreign reserves. CPF is the state pension fund.

Ngerng has said he penned the article in an attempt to call for greater transparency on how the CPF is invested by the government through its two sovereign wealth firms.

He took down the article and links to it on his Facebook pages on Tuesday in compliance with the prime minister's demand.

But the blogger's lawyer M. Ravi dismissed the demand for compensation, while urging Lee not to seek damages.

"This would be so as to not reduce our client to a most assuredly disadvantaged position," Ravi wrote in a letter to Lee's lawyer on Friday.

He said Ngerng welcomed "an opportunity to have an open dialogue" with Lee regarding the CPF.

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 Blog post from Roy Ngerng, posted on May 23, 2014:

 Apology and Undertaking to Lee Hsien Loong

1. On or around 15 May 2014, I, Roy Ngerng Yi Ling, published on my blog (at https://thehearttruths.com/), an article entitled "Where your CPF Money Is Going: Learning From The City Harvest Trial" (the "Article"). I also published links to the Article on my Facebook page (at https://www.facebook.com/sexiespider) and on The Heart Truths' Facebook page (at https://www.facebook.com/pages/I-want-the-government-and-people-to-work-together-for-Singapores-future/185331834935656).

2.I recognise that the Article means and is understood to mean that Mr Lee Hsien Loong, the Prime Minister of Singapore and Chairman of GIC, is guilty of criminal misappropriation of the monies paid by Singaporeans to the Central Provident Fund.

3.I admit and acknowledge that this allegation is false and completely without foundation.

4.I unreservedly apologise to Mr Lee Hsien Loong for the distress and embarrassment caused to him by this allegation.

5.I have removed the Article and the links to the Article and undertake not to make any further allegations to the same or similar effect.

 

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