Blogger pays 29,000 dollars to Singapore PM in defamation case

SINGAPORE: A blogger has paid 29,000 dollars in costs for court proceedings to Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong after the premier won a defamation case against him.

The High Court last month had ordered blogger Roy Ngerng to pay Lee the hefty amount in total costs for court proceedings up until the summary judgement issued in November involving the defamation case.

The summary judgement deemed he had defamed Lee through blog posts alleging misappropriation of money placed in the Central Provident Fund, a scheme of workers-employers' contribution.

Ngerng missed two deadlines of January 29 and February 2 to make the payment.

The SGD 29,000 is for legal fees and related expenses incurred by Lee in the case.

It does not include the damages to be awarded, which the High Court will assess at a later date.

Ngerng was sued over an article posted on his blog, alleging that the Prime Minister had misappropriated money paid by Singaporeans to the CPF.