"Blogger uses crowdfunding to fight PM’s defamation suit - AFP Monday, Jun 02, 2014
SINGAPORE - A Singaporean blogger sued for damages by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Monday he had successfully raised fees for his legal defence in just four days through crowdfunding.
Roy Ngerng Yi Ling, a government health worker who posts comments on social issues, said 1,104 people had so far contributed more than S$72,000, exceeding his target of S$70,000 when he launched the campaign Friday.
Ngerng published the transaction history of his bank account on his crowdfunding platform. Many of the donors registered comments criticising Lee and opposing the use of libel suits to silence government critics.
"Donations were mostly of small denominations, and ranged from one cent to two thousand dollars," Ngerng, 33, told AFP.
Lee filed the defamation suit on Thursday in the High Court, where the typical minimum value of claims for damages is S$250,000.
Lee had earlier rejected an apology and dismissed as "derisory" a compensation offer of S$5,000 from Ngerng. The court will have the final say on the amount to be awarded.
A pre-trial conference has been set for July 4.
Lee's lawyer said the post had suggested that the prime minister, who is the chairman of state investment agency GIC, "is guilty of criminal misappropriation of the monies paid by Singaporeans to the Central Provident Fund (CPF)." GIC manages more than US$100 billion of the city-state's foreign reserves. The CPF is the state pension fund.
Ngerng said Monday that for now, he would not "actively solicit for more funds as the target we set has been reached" but indicated he may seek help paying any damages awarded to Lee.""
Wow! We are in UNCHARTED TERRITORY for sure!
Lessons for me are:
1. Mr Ngerng will have to be VERY CAREFUL to separate his 'crowdfunding' to fight his legal case with PM Lee from his PERSONAL bank account. EVERY In-and-Out of this 'legal case' SPECIAL Account will need to be PUBLICLY view ONLINE. This is to protect himself against 'moments of weakness' AND, more importantly, from detractors from attacking his integrity;
2. it is also a TEST CASE, just as until very recently, many VOTERS were STILL not totally convinced that their votes at each General Election were SECRET, and were 'holding back' or 'very cautious' in casting votes for the oppositions' candidates. Will the many small DONORS' identities be tracked? Will they are in a bit of a bother as they are supporting an ordinary Singaporean to fight the legal case against the PM of the country?;
3. what should the ordinary Singaporeans and the many experts read into this DEVELOPMENT? will emotion runs so high that both parties will TOTALLY discard calm, cool and collected rational thinking to re-assess 'what are the next steps"?
Is the sentiment of indignation that the PM is shutting up the little guy very very strong and wide-spread? Is it just the 1k+ donors that contributed to the 'legal' fund all there are OR the 1k+ are the tip of the iceberg?
Again, I am NOT a lawyer and I am NOT able to see how the 'comparison' to the CHC case can be a forgone conclusion that PM has been defamed WHEN the court ONLY recently decided that the Accused People from CHC has a case to answer. The defendants are NOT found guilty yet UNLESS we are saying they are GUILTY even before the trial commences? A travesty of justice? Hopefully not. BUT, since I am NOT a lawyer, I will leave it to the lawyers from both sides and the court to help us understand.
I await with bated breath. Like the million of court-side observers that will sure to tune in.
FINALLY, alas, despite my intention to focus on this 'crowdfunding' episode, I COULD NOT help but also reflect on Minister Khaw's comments: "Promising goodies to win votes not the way to go: Khaw".
The voters of Potong Pasir HAD NOT been swayed for MANY YEARS when Mr Chiam's party COULD NOT bring 'goodies' to them. The voters of Hougang DID the SAME. So, it is true that 'promising goodies to win voters not the way to go!'
It is ALSO TRUE that: 'perceived SHUTTING UP' the little guy; and possibly making the little guy bankrupt is NOT the WAY to GO too.
Think about it. Deeply?
Roy Ngerng Yi Ling, a government health worker who posts comments on social issues, said 1,104 people had so far contributed more than S$72,000, exceeding his target of S$70,000 when he launched the campaign Friday.
Ngerng published the transaction history of his bank account on his crowdfunding platform. Many of the donors registered comments criticising Lee and opposing the use of libel suits to silence government critics.
"Donations were mostly of small denominations, and ranged from one cent to two thousand dollars," Ngerng, 33, told AFP.
Lee filed the defamation suit on Thursday in the High Court, where the typical minimum value of claims for damages is S$250,000.
Lee had earlier rejected an apology and dismissed as "derisory" a compensation offer of S$5,000 from Ngerng. The court will have the final say on the amount to be awarded.
A pre-trial conference has been set for July 4.
Lee's lawyer said the post had suggested that the prime minister, who is the chairman of state investment agency GIC, "is guilty of criminal misappropriation of the monies paid by Singaporeans to the Central Provident Fund (CPF)." GIC manages more than US$100 billion of the city-state's foreign reserves. The CPF is the state pension fund.
Ngerng said Monday that for now, he would not "actively solicit for more funds as the target we set has been reached" but indicated he may seek help paying any damages awarded to Lee.""
Wow! We are in UNCHARTED TERRITORY for sure!
Lessons for me are:
1. Mr Ngerng will have to be VERY CAREFUL to separate his 'crowdfunding' to fight his legal case with PM Lee from his PERSONAL bank account. EVERY In-and-Out of this 'legal case' SPECIAL Account will need to be PUBLICLY view ONLINE. This is to protect himself against 'moments of weakness' AND, more importantly, from detractors from attacking his integrity;
2. it is also a TEST CASE, just as until very recently, many VOTERS were STILL not totally convinced that their votes at each General Election were SECRET, and were 'holding back' or 'very cautious' in casting votes for the oppositions' candidates. Will the many small DONORS' identities be tracked? Will they are in a bit of a bother as they are supporting an ordinary Singaporean to fight the legal case against the PM of the country?;
3. what should the ordinary Singaporeans and the many experts read into this DEVELOPMENT? will emotion runs so high that both parties will TOTALLY discard calm, cool and collected rational thinking to re-assess 'what are the next steps"?
Is the sentiment of indignation that the PM is shutting up the little guy very very strong and wide-spread? Is it just the 1k+ donors that contributed to the 'legal' fund all there are OR the 1k+ are the tip of the iceberg?
Again, I am NOT a lawyer and I am NOT able to see how the 'comparison' to the CHC case can be a forgone conclusion that PM has been defamed WHEN the court ONLY recently decided that the Accused People from CHC has a case to answer. The defendants are NOT found guilty yet UNLESS we are saying they are GUILTY even before the trial commences? A travesty of justice? Hopefully not. BUT, since I am NOT a lawyer, I will leave it to the lawyers from both sides and the court to help us understand.
I await with bated breath. Like the million of court-side observers that will sure to tune in.
FINALLY, alas, despite my intention to focus on this 'crowdfunding' episode, I COULD NOT help but also reflect on Minister Khaw's comments: "Promising goodies to win votes not the way to go: Khaw".
The voters of Potong Pasir HAD NOT been swayed for MANY YEARS when Mr Chiam's party COULD NOT bring 'goodies' to them. The voters of Hougang DID the SAME. So, it is true that 'promising goodies to win voters not the way to go!'
It is ALSO TRUE that: 'perceived SHUTTING UP' the little guy; and possibly making the little guy bankrupt is NOT the WAY to GO too.
Think about it. Deeply?
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