The Attorney-General’s Chambers has filed an application in the High Court for leave to commence committal proceedings against Li Shengwu for “contempt of court in connection with the publication of a Facebook post” today.
Shengwu attracted the attention of the AGC on 15 July after posting a private “friends-only” Facebook post, criticising Singapore’s government and judiciary. Linking a Wall Street Journal article that offered a thorough analysis of the public Oxley Rd feud, Shengwu had said in his own words: “Keep in mind, of course that the Singapore government is very litigious and has a pliant court system. This constrains what the international media can usually report.”
The AGC said in a statement today that it had issued a warning letter to Shengwu on 21 July, asking him to “purge the contempt” by doing the following by 5pm on 28 July 2017:
(a) delete and remove the Post from his Facebook page and any other social/online media and other documents in his possession, custody or control; and
(b) issue and post prominently a written apology and undertaking in the terms stated in the AGC’s letter on his Facebook page.
Shengwu subsequently wrote to the AGC requesting an extension to respond by 5pm on 4 August 2017 so that he could seek counsel. The AGC agreed and has said that it is pursuing legal action against the late Founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew’s grandson as he “has failed to purge the contempt and to apologise by the extended deadline.”
The AGC also released its correspondence with Shengwu online. TISG republishes all of the documents the AGC released today in full:
AGC’s latest statement
AGC’s original letter of warning to Li Shengwu
The apology letter the AGC wanted Li Shengwu to sign
Li Shengwu requests an extension to respond
The AGC responds to the request for an extension
