Ong Ye Kung, Chee Hong Tat and Ng Chee Meng ask Facebook user to withdraw Su Haijin allegations

[SINGAPORE] One Sng Chia Huat, who goes by Rich Sng on Facebook, put up two posts on the social media site falsely accusing two ministers of being aware that Fujian gang member Su Haijin had broken laws but condoned it.

He also falsely accused Health Minister Ong Ye Kung and Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat of dishonestly pretending not to know Su, being involved in or susceptible to corruption or bribery, and being part of a system that protects criminals like Su.

Both ministers, in a joint statement on Monday (May 12), said they have sent Sng letters from their lawyers, and will be suing him for defamation if he does not make the reparations they have requested.

The statement added that the allegations made by Sng in his posts are baseless and false.

An earlier joint statement on May 6 had detailed how both ministers do not know Su personally, and did not have any contact with him before or after they had dinner with him.

Singapore tycoon Sam Goi said he hosted the private dinners where Su was present, along with several Cabinet ministers and businessmen, The Straits Times reported on May 9. Goi added that the dinner with Chee was held on Nov 19, 2020, and the dinner with Ong was held on May 10, 2022.

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Photos of the dinners – social networking events – were posted on Instagram on May 4 and May 5 by former Reform Party chairman Charles Yeo.

Su, a Cypriot national, faced 14 charges, including resisting arrest and money laundering. He was sentenced to 14 months’ jail on April 4, 2024, and deported to Cambodia on May 28 that year. He was one of 10 people convicted in a US$3 billion money laundering case, which was one of Singapore’s largest.

On May 12, Ong and Chee asked Sng to apologise, withdraw his false allegations and pay damages, which they will donate to charity. This must be done by May 16, the statement added.

The statement did not specify the amount of damages the two ministers are asking for.

If Sng does not withdraw the false allegations and pay damages, the ministers will sue him to clear their names, and to uphold the clean and honest reputation of the Government, the statement added.

Labour chief Ng Chee Meng, in a separate statement on May 12, said Sng has also put up several posts about him that are false, misleading and defamatory.

“Through my lawyer, I have asked Mr Sng to withdraw his false allegations and to apologise by May 16, 2025,” the statement said.

Ng – who is the newly elected MP for Jalan Kayu – said he has asked Sng to propose an amount of damages, which he will donate to charity.

“If he does not do so, I will be compelled to take legal action against Mr Sng to clear my name against these false, misleading and defamatory allegations,” he added.

Ng was among the guests at a dinner hosted by Goi on May 1, 2021, which Su attended. He said it is part of his work as labour chief to engage with different companies and private-sector leaders.

Ng, who is secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress, on May 6 said he had no further interactions with Su after police investigations and criminal charges were brought against the man. THE STRAITS TIMES