PM LEE’S LAWYER: ROY NGERNG HARBOURS DEEP SEATED HATRED FOR LEE HSIEN LOONG

During today’s hearing to assess the total damages blogger Roy Ngerng has to pay to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Lee’s lawyers highlighted that previous awards in defamation cases involving government officials ranged from $100,000 to $400,000. As a result, they argued that a higher quantum should be awarded for Ngerng’s alleged egregious conduct, malic and continuous attacks against PM Lee.

From the very first, the defendant set out to wound,” PM Lee’s lawyers said of Mr Ngerng and his initial blog post.

PM Lee’s lawyers claimed that “from the very first, the defendant set out to wound”. In addition, they said that “if the defendant’s actions have proved anything, it is that he harbours a deep seated hatred of the plaintiff. That is the only explanation for the venom in his continuing attacks and his relentless aggravation.”

For these, the lawyers urged the Court to “express, in strongest terms, its indignation” at Roy Ngerng’s conduct as “the case for a very high award of damages, including aggravated damages, is compelling.”