Tang's appeals begins Monday Sept 22

HUMAN rights group, Amnesty International, is sending an observer to attend the hearing of lawyer Tang Liang Hong's the appeals beginning Monday Sep 22 at 10am Singapore time.

The observer is Queen's Counsellor Mr Gerard McCoy QC, a New Zealander, based in Hong Kong.

Mr Charles Gray, QC, a defamation specialist from the United Kingdom, will argue the appeals by Mr Tang against the damages he has to pay 11 People's Action Party leaders who sued him for calling them liars and criminals during the General Election in January.

Mr Charles Gray QC will be assisted by Mr Joshua B. Jeyaretnam.

The appealant judges are Justices M. Karthigesu , L. P. Thean and G. P. Selvam.

The appeals against the damages awarded to SM Lee Kuan Yew, PM Goh Chok Tong and the other PAP members will be heard in the Court of Appeal on Monday. The PAP men won $8.075 million in damages in May after Justice Chao Hick Tin ruled that they were justified in calling Mr Tang an anti-English-educated, anti-Christian Chinese chauvinist.

The hearings set for two days, will also hear Mr Tang's appeal against a decision by Justice Lai Kew Chai, his lawyer J. B. Jeyaretnam said in a press statement yesterday. Justice Lai had dismissed Mr Tang's attempt to stop him from hearing the plaintiff's application for a Mareva injunction to freeze Mr Tang's assets.

Singapore lawyer and opposition leader Mr J. B. Jeyaretnam said that Mr Tang had argued that the judge should not have heard the application "on the ground of bias and consequently the injunction should be set aside".

Mr Tang's defence against the defamation lawsuits filed by the PAP leaders was dismissed after he failed to comply with court orders to declare his assets to them.

Relevant court documents are available on Mr Tang's homepage.