Singapore Ministers Sue Bloomberg Over Defamation
Title: Singapore Ministers File Defamation Suits Against Bloomberg Over Property Transaction Article
Source: The Online Citizen,
https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2025/02...n-article/ (Published on 2025-02-25)
Author Information: Not explicitly mentioned
Article Summary:
Theme: The article details the legal action taken by Singaporean Ministers K Shanmugam and Tan See Leng against Bloomberg for alleged defamatory statements made in a December 2024 article regarding GCB property transactions.
Core Points:
- Lawsuit Details: Ministers K Shanmugam and Tan See Leng have filed defamation lawsuits against Bloomberg and journalist Low De Wei. The case conference is scheduled for March 3rd, 2025.
- Article Focus: The Bloomberg article, titled "Singapore mansion deals are increasingly shrouded in secrecy," focused on GCB transactions in Singapore, raising concerns about transparency due to the lack of public records for nearly half of the transactions in 2024.
- Ministers' Claims: The ministers argue that the Bloomberg article falsely suggests Singapore lacks proper disclosure requirements for GCB transactions. They claim all property transactions are recorded in the SLA’s INLIS database, regardless of whether a caveat is lodged.
- Allegations: The ministers assert that the article falsely portrays them as engaging in secretive dealings and misusing legal mechanisms for privacy.
- Bloomberg's Response: Bloomberg added a correction notice to its article but maintained its stance, disagreeing with the correction and reserving its right to appeal.
Phenomenon:
The article highlights the complex legal battle between government officials and a prominent news organization, emphasizing the importance of transparency in public transactions and the potential consequences of reporting on these issues.
Additional Points:
- Other media outlets that republished the Bloomberg article, including The Edge Singapore, The Independent Singapore, and TOC, received correction orders under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA).
- TOC's refusal to comply with the POFMA correction direction and the legal complexities surrounding the service of summons on TOC's editor in Taiwan are further explored.