TRE Richard Wan in hot soup:
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stori...184021/1/.html
PM Lee's lawyers take Temasek Review Emeritus editor to task
By Ng Jing Yng, TODAY | Posted: 20 February 2012 0814 hrs
SINGAPORE: Four days after sociopolitical website Temasek Review Emeritus (TRE) editor Richard Wan made a first public appearance at a social media forum, he was served a lawyer's letter on Sunday by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong for carrying allegedly defamatory remarks on his website.
This is the second time in the past week that a political leader has sent a legal warning to a website regarding allegedly defamatory comments.
In TRE's case, Mr Lee's lawyers are asking Mr Wan to retract a Feb 16 post and to publish an apology on his website within the next four days.
The five-page letter, which was sent by Drew and Napier's Senior Counsel Davinder Singh, made reference to an excerpt of a post on TRE which questioned Madam Ho Ching's position in Temasek Holdings.
In the letter, Mr Singh said the excerpt "alleged that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong secured or was instrumental in securing the appointment of his wife, Mdm Ho Ching, as the chief executive officer of Temasek Holdings (Private) Limited for nepotistic motives".
"This is a false and baseless allegation. As is publicly known, Mdm Ho Ching was appointed on merit and through proper process."
The letter also outlined the circumstances behind Mdm Ho's appointment and highlighted past instances where other media outlets had to apologise for similar allegations.
Mr Singh also noted that Mr Wan confirmed his identity as TRE's editor after attending a public forum on Wednesday.
Mr Lee has requested that TRE immediately remove the article and all related comments as well as to publish an apology and the undertaking. But Mr Singh added: "Although our client has suffered damage and incurred costs as a result of the libel, he has not made any demand for damages or cost." Legal proceedings and damages and costs will nonetheless be pursued if TRE does not comply, he added.
Mr Wan, who is one of the five editors behind TRE but is the only one based here, told Today that the post was made by one of their contributors.
He added that TRE is "very sorry for causing unnecessary duress to the PM" and will comply with all the remedial actions.
Mr Wan said that TRE vets through all its articles before publishing them but it is challenging to vet through the feedback received each day. Going forward, Mr Wan said that they will be "more careful" before any publication.
Last Tuesday, Foreign and Law Minister K Shanmugam sent a lawyer's letter to well-known blogger Alex Au, asking him to remove from his website allegedly defamatory comments about the minister. Mr Au did so, saying he took Mr Shanmugam at his word.
Nominated Member of Parliament Eugene Tan, who is a law academic at the Singapore Management University, said that the approach taken by the political leaders has been consistent in protecting their reputation especially when it comes to defamatory remarks.
He noted that Mr Lee and Mr Shanmugam are not asking for damages and costs. "This perhaps suggests that the political leaders have recognised the new political environment we are in, and the need and value of a greater diversity of views being expressed by Singaporeans. Benefit of the doubt is extended in the first instance but it is not to be regarded as a licence for defamation," he said. - TODAY
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