Apex court grants Li Shengwu permission to appeal
The nephew of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Mr Li Shengwu, got the green light yesterday to go ahead with his appeal to quash a court order that allowed the Attorney-General (A-G) to serve papers on him in the US for contempt of court.
One of the key issues that will be argued before the Court of Appeal is whether a procedural rule - which specifically allows court papers for contempt to be served outside Singapore - can be applied retroactively.
The rule in question took effect on Oct 1 last year, when the Administration of Justice (Protection) Act, which codifies the law of contempt in Singapore, was enacted.
FACEBOOK POST
The A-G started proceedings against Mr Li for contempt on Aug 21 last year, over a Facebook post he put up on July 15 last year, in which he said "the Singapore Government is very litigious and has a pliant court system".
His post was related to a dispute involving his father Lee Hsien Yang, his aunt Lee Wei Ling and the Prime Minister, over the fate of the Oxley Road home of their late father, former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew.
On Sept 27 last year, the A-G obtained leave, or permission, from the High Court to serve contempt of court papers on Mr Li in the US. The papers were personally served on Mr Li on Oct 17 and subsequently he applied to set aside the High Court order. His application was dismissed by a High Court judge, who also rejected his request for leave to appeal.
Mr Li, represented by Mr Abraham Vergis of Providence Law, then went to the Court of Appeal to seek leave to appeal.
Yesterday, the issue of whether the court has jurisdiction over a foreign-based defendant, and what the basis is for that jurisdiction, was repeatedly raised by a three-judge apex court.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the court gave Mr Li permission to appeal.
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