Roy Ngerng to
pay S$150,000 in damages to PM Lee in instalments
SINGAPORE: To pay the S$150,000 in damages owed to Prime
Minister Lee Hsien Loong for defamation, blogger Roy Ngerng will
start with payments of S$100 a month for five years, his lawyer
said on Monday (Mar 14).
These instalments will start from Apr 1, 2016. After five years
- from Apr 1, 2021 - Ngerng will have to pay S$1,000 a month until
the full sum is paid, lawyer Eugene Thuraisingam said.
In addition, Ngerng will have to pay S$30,000 by Wednesday, Mar
16 for the costs of the Assessment of Damages hearing.
If he pays all the instalments on time, Ngerng will complete
paying by 2033.
In an email, Mr Thuraisingam said that on behalf of Ngerng, they
had agreed with Mr Lee's lawyers on terms to settle the costs
payable for the assessment hearing and the terms of payment of the
S$150,000 late last week.
In a statement later on Thursday, the Press Secretary to Mr Lee
confirmed that Mr Ngerng had asked to be let off by paying only
S$36,000 in costs and damages. In response, the Prime Minister had
said Ngerng had to discharge the entire debt, but would be allowed
to pay it in instalments, provided that costs were paid
immediately.
"Roy Ngerng has agreed and this was recorded by the Court this
morning," added the statement. "Roy Ngerng will pay costs of
S$30,000 by Mar 16 and the S$150,000 over time.”
Ngerng will not have to pay any interest if he makes his
payments on time. However, if he breaches the agreement - such as
by failing to make any one of the payments on time - the full
amount outstanding plus Court Judgment interest will be immediately
payable.
Mr Thuraisingam was representing Ngerng on a pro bono basis.
- CNA/av