A blogger is facing legal action for alleging that CPF funds have
been "misappropriated".
In a letter of demand sent through his lawyer to Mr Roy Ngerng of
the website The Heart Truths, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong called
for the blog post to be removed from Mr Ngerng's website and his
Facebook pages.
If he fails to do so, he could be sued for defamation.
The letter of demand was put up on Mr Ngerng's site and confirmed
by the PM's press secretary on Monday.
In the post, Mr Ngerng compared a Channel News Asia chart detailing
the relationship between City Harvest Church leaders involved in a
criminal trial, to another chart.
That chart sets out the relationships between the CPF, Mr Lee and
also the Monetary Authority of Singapore, Temasek Holdings and the
Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC).
Mr Ngerng had said in the post: "Meanwhile, something bears an
uncanny resemblance to how the money is being misappropriated."
The City Harvest Church leaders have been charged for allegedly
misappropriating $24 million through sham investments in two
church-linked companies, and using $26.6 million to cover it
up.
Mr Lee's lawyer, Senior Counsel Davinder Singh, said in the letter
that the blog post "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
CPF".
"This is a false and baseless allegation and constitutes a very
serious libel against out client, disparages him and impugns his
character, credit and integrity. It is also clear that the article
was published maliciously," he added.
Mr Singh also asked for Mr Ngerng to publish an apology on his blog
within three days of the letter, which is dated May 18.
Mr Ngerng, who is being represented by lawyer M Ravi, posted the
letter of demand on Monday on his website saying he is "being sued
for defamation".
"I have tried my best to speak up for my country. I have tried my
best to advocate for my fellow citizens. However, today, I am sued
by the very government which should be protecting its citizens,
such as me. This is disappointing," he wrote.
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