Singapore leaders step up court fight

Singapore leaders step up court fight

SINGAPORE (DPA): Singapore leaders suing an opposition political figure for defamation have asked the nation's High Court to strike out his defense, news reports said yesterday.

If they are successful, they can ask the court for costs and damages without a trial.

Singapore's Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, along with nine other members of the long- ruling People's Action Party (PAP), fired a barrage of lawsuits against opposition candidate Tang Liang Hong over Tang's remarks during the run-up to the country's Jan. 2 election.

Tang, a 61-year-old lawyer who has repeatedly claimed he wants to fight the suits, left Singapore after narrowly losing a parliamentary bid in the election and is currently believed to be in Hong Kong.