Court holds debt collection agency that live-streamed visit to Lim Tean’s office liable for defamation, damages

A debt collection firm which called its agents “money-recovering avengers” and which live-streamed a collection visit at the office of lawyer and opposition leader Lim Tean last year has been held liable for defamation by the High Court. 

The High Court said that SDCS Holdings defamed a company director when it carried out the visit to Mr Lim’s office. The agency has been ordered to apologise publicly via its Facebook page by Justice S. Mohan.

The wording of the apology also needs to be agreed upon by both parties, The Straits Times reported on Monday (June 27).

If they fail to agree on the wording, they may write into the court to settle it, Justice Mohan added.

The apology needs to stay up for 14 days from the time it’s been agreed upon.

Agents from SCDS arrived at the office of Mr Lim on Anson Road on Sept 21, 2021, to collect a debt of $4,905.12  on behalf of a client.

In a Facebook video posted on the company’s channel, the entire process at Mr Lim’s office was filmed and live-streamed online.

The live stream was captioned “Debt Recovery in Progress. Catch us live while SDCS demands payment from this debtor”.

The live stream received 178,000 views within one week, claim documents say.

Mr Lim’s office was then adjoining management consultancy firm Third March International.

The director of Third March International, Mr Edward Tan, wrote a check to cover the debt on behalf of Mr Lim.

This drew the alleged defamatory remarks made by Kenneth Tien, who represents SDCS.

ST noted that Mr Tan “is a professional arbitration and mediation consultant with more than 20 years of experience in managing maritime and shipping disputes including charterers’ and logistics operators’ liabilities.”

The live stream posted by SDCS showed the name and signboard of Third March International, as well as Mr Tan and Mr Lim.

Shortly afterwards, Mr Tan was called by 20 business associates and claimed to have missed out on a chance to sit on a claims tribunal adjudicating a dispute between a claimant in Indonesia and a company in Singapore.

SDCS removed the video on Oct 7.

Mr Peter Ong Lip Cheng, who represented Third March International in court, applied for summary judgment against SDCS at the hearing, as well as sought damages.

The company’s claim was contested by SDCS. 

Justice S. Mohan found a prima facie case for summary judgment in favour of Third March International.

He has also ordered for the suit to proceed for damages to be assessed against the debt collection agency. /TISG

Debt collectors show up at Lim Tean’s office demanding payment with court order