Goh accepts Jeya's offer to pay damages in instalments

VETERAN opposition politician Joshua Jeyaretnam said yesterday Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong has agreed to accept libel damages in instalments instead of forcing him into bankruptcy.

"The Prime Minister has accepted my offer," and bankruptcy proceedings had been dropped, Mr Jeyaretnam said. (This has subsequently been confirmed by Goh's lawyers - Stratis Times Oct 6.)

Mr Jeyaretnam, who owes Mr Goh damages of S$100,000 for a remark which was found libellous, was due in bankruptcy court on Friday.

If Mr Jeyaretnam, long-time leader of the Workers' Party, was declared bankrupt, he would lose his seat in parliament and be unable to continue his legal practice.

Last Friday, Mr Jeyaretnam said in a statement he had asked his lawyers to see if Mr Goh would "accept payment of the judgment for damages of S$100,000 in five equal instalments".

He was offering to pay interest as well and Mr Goh had accepted the whole offer, Mr Jeyaretnam said.

The 72-year-old said Mr Goh's acceptance was not a cause for happiness.

"I try to make the best of a bad situation," Mr Jeyaretnam said.

"It doesn't mean I don't have to pay. There's nothing to be happy about."

Mr Jeyaretnam estimated his legal costs could amount to S$200,000.

"Everything is adding up against me," he said.

Mr Jeyaretnam said he would still claim trial in seven other outstanding suits from senior members of the ruling People's Action Party, (PAP) including Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew, over the remark held libellous in Mr Goh's case.

Mr Jeyaretnam has had many such battles with PAP leaders, especially with Mr Lee, Singapore's prime minister for 31 years.

The Worker's Party leader has paid Mr Lee about S$780,000 in damages over the years.

In August, Mr Goh said he would forego the damages if Mr Jeyaretnam apologised. Mr Jeyaretnam said he was willing to do so, but the two sides ultimately failed to agree on the precise terms.

Mr Goh then served a bankruptcy petition on Mr Jeyaretnam for not making the payment on schedule.

At issue in the libel judgment were remarks Mr Jeyaretnam made at an election rally last year in which he said fellow Workers' Party candidate Tang Liang Hong had filed police reports against Mr Goh.

Published in the South China Morning Post. Oct 6, 1998