Jeya appeal: Court reserves judgment

Both wanted to reverse last September's verdict by Justice S. Rajendran. Mr Goh's lawyer, Senior Counsel Davinder Singh, pressed for the $20,000 damages granted to be raised to $200,000.

He said Mr Goh deserved more from Mr Jeyaretnam, because of his standing and reputation and to prevent his moral authority to govern being undermined.

He also urged the court to award the plaintiff full costs instead of the 60-per-cent amount decided upon.

The WP chief was found guilty of defaming him at a Workers' Party election rally on Jan 1 last year, when he told the crowd police reports had been filed against the PM and his PAP colleagues.

Mr Singh's arguments were rejected by Mr Charles Gray, the Queen's Counsel representing Mr Jeyaretnam, who urged the court to lower the damages to a nominal sum.

He said the eight defamation suits filed by Mr Goh and other People's Action Party leaders were politically motivated and aimed at "liquidating his client politically and driving him out of politics". Mr Jeyaretnam, a Non-Constituency MP, faced bills of $200,000 in damages plus $100,000 in costs to the PM, the QC said.

The WP chief's total liability would amount to more than $2 million for all the eight suits, he added.

He made plain that Mr Jeyaretanam would be made a bankrupt if he faced such legal costs and would thereby lose his seat in Parliament.

The three-man court comprised Chief Justice Yong Pung How, Justices M Karthigesu and L.P. Thean.

Published in the Straits Times. April 28, 1998