Singapore High Court to Hear Oral Submissions in Bloomberg Defamation Trial on May 22
The Singapore High Court has scheduled oral submissions for the defamation trial involving Bloomberg and reporter Low De Wei on May 22, 2026. The trial, which commenced on April 7, was adjourned after seven days of proceedings. The case was initiated by Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam and Manpower Minister Tan See Leng against Bloomberg regarding a December 2024 article titled 'Singapore Mansion Deals Are Increasingly Shrouded in Secrecy.' The ministers allege the article defamed them by implying they exploited loopholes in property transaction disclosures to act non-transparently. Specifically, the article highlighted Shanmugam’s sale of a Good Class Bungalow for S$88 million and Tan’s purchase of another property. During the trial, Shanmugam testified that internal emails suggested Bloomberg targeted him by wrapping his transaction into a broader narrative about secrecy. Conversely, Bloomberg’s defense argued that the ministers were informed their transactions would be included. Oral submissions will allow both parties to summarize evidence and persuade the judge before the final ruling. This legal battle underscores tensions between media reporting on public officials' private financial dealings and defamation laws in Singapore.
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Singapore High Court to Hear Oral Submissions in Bloomberg Defamation Trial on May 22
The Singapore High Court has scheduled oral submissions for the defamation trial involving Bloomberg and reporter Low De Wei on May 22, 2026. The trial, which commenced on April 7, was adjourned after seven days of proceedings. The case was initiated by Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam and Manpower Minister Tan See Leng against Bloomberg regarding a December 2024 article titled 'Singapore Mansion Deals Are Increasingly Shrouded in Secrecy.' The ministers allege the article defamed them by implying they exploited loopholes in property transaction disclosures to act non-transparently. Specifically, the article highlighted Shanmugam’s sale of a Good Class Bungalow for S$88 million and Tan’s purchase of another property. During the trial, Shanmugam testified that internal emails suggested Bloomberg targeted him by wrapping his transaction into a broader narrative about secrecy. Conversely, Bloomberg’s defense argued that the ministers were informed their transactions would be included. Oral submissions will allow both parties to summarize evidence and persuade the judge before the final ruling. This legal battle underscores tensions between media reporting on public officials' private financial dealings and defamation laws in Singapore.
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