About this case

THE PRIME Minister Goh Chok Tong sued Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam after the general election last year for words said by the Workers' Party leader on the eve of Polling Day.

At his party's final election rally at Yio Chu Kang Stadium on Jan1 last year, Mr Jeyaretnam had told the cheering crowds that "Mr Tang Liang Hong has just placed before me two reports he has made to the police, against, you know, Mr Goh and his people''.

When the case was heard in the high court last August, Mr Goh's lawyers argued that these words were defamatory, as Mr Jeyaretnam was suggesting that the Prime Minister was guilty of criminal conduct, as alleged by Mr Tang.

They sought $200,000 in damages plus costs.

Justice S.Rajendran ruled that the words were indeed defamatory, but to a lesser extent than that argued.

He said that they could only convey the lesser meaning that Mr Goh could be investigated for doing something which might be wrong.

He awarded Mr Goh $20,000, and ordered Mr Jeyaretnam to pay 60 per cent of the costs incurred. His decision was contested separately by both parties in the three-judge Appeal Court in April.

Yesterday, the Appeal Court raised the damages awarded to Mr Goh to $100,000 and ordered the Workers' Party chief to pay all costs.

Published in the Straits Times. July 18, 1998