On May 16, 2025, Facebook user Sng Chia Huat, who uses the name Rich Sng on the social media platform, issued a public apology to three Singaporean leaders: Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat, and NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng. His apology followed defamatory posts he made on Facebook earlier in the month, in which he falsely accused the three public officials of improper ties to Su Haijin, a convicted figure in the billion-dollar money laundering case that rocked Singapore in 2024.
Su, a Cypriot national, was sentenced to 14 months in jail in April 2024 for his role in the case. Images had previously circulated showing Su at dinners attended by the three ministers, prompting speculation and, in Sng’s case, allegations of misconduct.
On May 9 and 10, Rich Sng published Facebook posts suggesting that Minister Ong and Minister Chee had knowingly condoned Su’s illegal activities. He went further to accuse them of pretending not to know Su, and implied that they were either involved in or vulnerable to corruption. On May 8, 9, and 10, he also made similar posts targeting Mr Ng, implying wrongdoing and corruption.
On May 6, before Sng’s posts gained wider attention, both Minister Ong and Minister Chee clarified that the images showing them with Su were taken at social dinners they attended at a friend’s invitation. They emphasized that they did not know Su personally and had no knowledge of his criminal background at the time. They explained that, in the course of their duties, ministers frequently interact with a broad range of individuals at community events, dinners, and dialogues. Minister Ng echoed a similar point, noting that his meeting with Su took place as part of his outreach in his capacity as NTUC Secretary-General and that once he learned of Su's criminal charges, there were no further interactions.
On May 12, the three men issued a joint legal response, stating that they had sent letters of demand to Sng, requiring him to withdraw his defamatory statements, issue an apology, and pay damages by May 16. Mr Ng, who was newly elected as the Member of Parliament for Jalan Kayu SMC, issued a separate but similar statement on the same day. All three stated their intention to donate any damages received to charity.
In compliance with the legal letters, Sng posted two new Facebook statements on May 16 acknowledging receipt of the demands and confirming that he had removed the earlier posts. He also uploaded photographs of his signed letters of apology addressed to each minister, explicitly acknowledging that his allegations were “baseless, false and completely without foundation.”
Following this, the ministers issued a statement explaining their decision to pursue legal action. They emphasized that while individuals are free to express disagreement with government policies, this does not entitle anyone to make false and damaging accusations that question the personal integrity of public servants. The statement also reiterated the need for accessibility in governance, explaining that ministers frequently meet members of the public and stakeholders, and cannot be expected to screen every individual for criminal background.
Mr Ng later shared that he would not be taking further legal action against Sng at this point, noting that Sng had not only apologised unreservedly but also offered to perform 100 hours of community service for each of the three officials named in his posts. Mr Sng also claimed that he lacked the financial resources to pay any damages, citing that he was on the verge of bankruptcy.
In his final statement on May 16, Sng publicly expressed regret for the distress and embarrassment caused to the ministers. He confirmed the removal of his earlier posts and pledged not to make similar allegations in the future. However, he did not indicate whether he would be paying any financial compensation.
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