@Cybertan

Bloomberg defamation trial: Verdict reserved after court hears closing submissions   https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/tan-see-leng-shanmugam-defamation-low-de-wei-bloomberg-closing-submissions-6133906?cid=internal_sharetool_androidphone_22052026_cna   The provided report details the closing submissions in the defamation trial brought by Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam and Manpower Minister Tan See Leng against Bloomberg and its reporter Low De Wei.   The High Court wrapped up the seven-day trial on Friday, May 22, 2026. Here are the key highlights:   Case Background   - The Article: The lawsuit centers on a December 12, 2024, Bloomberg article titled "Singapore Mansion Deals Are Increasingly Shrouded in Secrecy." - The Allegation: The ministers claim the article defamed them by suggesting they conducted property transactions (Good Class Bungalows or GCBs) in an opaque manner, taking advantage of a lack of checks and balances.   Core Arguments   - The Ministers' Position (represented by Senior Counsel Davinder Singh): - Argued that the article falsely linked the ministers' transactions to secrecy, weak oversight, and money laundering concerns. - Accused the defendants of "unprecedented" malice, pointing to Bloomberg's decision to remove the paywall for the story and publicly stand by it. - Maintained that the defense of "responsible journalism" does not apply under Singapore law in this context. - Bloomberg's Position (represented by Senior Counsel Sreenivasan Narayanan): - Argued the article was a legitimate piece of public interest journalism regarding transparency trends in the real estate market. - Claimed there was no malice involved and that the report relied on a "plain and ordinary" reading of facts. - Contended that while property information is technically available via government databases (INLIS), it remains difficult and costly for the general public to access.   Damages and Next Steps   - Sought Damages: The ministers are seeking a higher amount of damages than the S$420,000 recently awarded in a separate defamation case against Terry Xu (editor of The Online Citizen) regarding the same issue. - Verdict: Justice Audrey Lim has reserved her verdict. No specific date has been set for the final judgment.   The ministers were not present in court during the closing submissions.

From Wetnam     @XianGe You got meet this type last week?