QC attacks `political' libel award

A TOP British lawyer has asked Singapore's Court of Appeal to overturn the state's biggest libel award, saying it contains legal errors and was brought for political reasons.

London Queen's Council (QC) Charles Gray said most of the cases brought by Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and 10 leaders of the People's Action Party (PAP) against opposition politician Tang Liang Hong were intended to keep him from becoming a member of parliament.

Goh and his colleagues were awarded S$8.08 million (HK$41.2 million) and costs _ which Mr Gray said could amount to S$3 million _ earlier this year after Tang called them liars.

Mr Gray said the ``grotesque'' award would have a ``chilling effect . . . on freedom of speech and political debate''.

``The political agenda is clear and transparent.''

The PAP leaders, who deny they use the courts to crush opponents, have said they sued to defend the integrity that was critical to their ability to rule.

But Mr Gray said the case should never have been awarded against Tang because Justice Lai Kew Chai, who issued orders critical to the final result, should have disqualified himself because of possible perceptions of bias.

Mr Gray said he was not accusing Mr Justice Lai of bias. But as the judge was an ex-partner of a law firm co-founded by Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew, a PAP leader, and because he had called Tang a ``liar'' and a ``coward'', there could be a perception of bias.

``Justice must not only be done, it must be seen to be done,'' Mr Gray said.

Goh, Lee and their colleagues should not have used the courts to pursue their battle with Tang, who they called an ``anti-Christian, Chinese chauvinist'', Mr Gray said.

The PAP won 81 of parliament's 83 seats in the 2 January election after turning all its heavy campaign guns on Tang of the Worker's Party (WP).

Tang fled the country afterwards, saying his life had been threatened. He has not returned to Singapore since. - Reuter