S’pore editor charged with defaming govt

SINGAPORE: The editor of a Singaporean website was charged with defamation yesterday for publishing a letter alleging corruption among the city-state’s leaders, with rights groups criticising the “heavy-handed” response from authorities.

Singapore has long been criticised for restricting free speech, as well as slapping critics with financially ruinous libel suits.

The financial hub is regularly ranked among the world’s least corrupt countries and its leaders are sensitive about accusations of graft.

Terry Xu was charged in court with defaming government ministers after his independent media website, The Online Citizen, published a letter stating there was “corruption at the highest echelons” of Singapore’s government.

Police seized computers and other devices used to operate the website from Xu’s residence after receiving a complaint.

The website ceased publication temporarily but is now up and running again.

Xu faces a maximum jail term of two years and a fine, or both.

The letter’s author, Daniel De Costa Augustin, was also charged with defamation and breaking computer crime laws for allegedly sending the piece from another person’s email account without their consent.

Augustin’s letter was published in September under the name “Willy Sum“, and did not mention the names of any allegedly corrupt officials or provide any evidence of graft.