Court rules against S'pore opposition

Court rules against S'pore opposition

SINGAPORE (AP): A court has ruled against an opposition
politician in another slander lawsuit filed by a leader of
Singapore's ruling party after a bitter election campaign in
January.

Judge Lai Kew Chai ruled on Tuesday that Tang Liang Hong
slandered Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong when he said he was afraid
to return from Malaysia, where he fled after losing the Jan. 2
election. Lai said he would determine damages later.

Tang, who also has been sued for denying accusations of racism
by Goh and others during the campaign, said he feared for his
safety and didn't believe the prime minister's promise not to
arrest him if he returned.

In comments to the Straits Times newspaper, Tang had said
Goh's predecessor, Lee Kuan Yew, reneged on a similar pledge not
to arrest student activists several years ago.