ChannelNewsAsia
Time is GMT + 8 hours
Posted: 13 March 2006 1545 hrs
Andrew Kuan apologises to ex-neighbour over defamatory
remarks
By Farah Abdul Rahim, Channel NewsAsia
SINGAPORE : Former presidential hopeful Andrew Kuan has made a
public apology for the second time in as many months.
He reached an out-of-court settlement with his ex-neighbour for
defamatory comments he had made last year.
The settlement includes compensation for damages as well as legal
costs.
In January, Mr Kuan apologised to MP Inderjit Singh and paid
damages for allegations he made against Mr Singh.
Mr Kuan, 52, was notably absent in court, but his apology was given
out by lawyers after the settlement was reached.
In it, Mr Kuan apologised unreservedly to his former condominium
management council member Chia Boon Teck for the embarrassment and
distress that his statements had caused.
He also agreed to compensate Mr Chia.
The comments were made in the run-up to the presidential election
last August, but Mr Kuan failed to get a certificate of eligibility
to contest the election.
Mr Chia says he is satisfied with the outcome.
Mr Chia says: "I am happy with the victory. When I sued, I asked
for four things from him, damages, costs, an apology and an
undertaking not to repeat the defamatory remarks.
"And with this settlement, I have the unreserved public apology,
damages, costs and an undertaking not to repeat these defamatory
remarks."
Based on previous similar cases, Mr Chia could have asked for up to
$150,000 in damages but in an out-of-court settlement like this,
the sum is usually lower.
Both sides declined to disclose the exact amount of compensation
and legal costs paid out by Mr Kuan. - CNA/de
