Closed Singapore news website’s editor jailed for defamation alleging corruption among government ministers
- Terry Xu was jailed three weeks for defamation over a letter published by The Online Citizen, the letter’s author, Daniel De Costa, was also sentenced
- It is the latest case to fuel concerns about worsening press freedoms in tightly controlled Singapore, with authorities accused of trying to silence dissent
The editor of a closed Singaporean news website was on Thursday jailed three weeks for defamation over a letter the portal published alleging corruption among government ministers.
It is the latest case to fuel concerns about worsening press freedoms in tightly controlled Singapore, with authorities accused of using heavy-handed tactics to silence dissent.
The Online Citizen (TOC), which was often critical of authorities, had its licence to operate cancelled in October over a failure to declare funding sources.
Terry Xu, TOC’s former chief editor, was convicted the following month of defaming cabinet members over the publication of a letter stating there was “corruption at the highest echelons”.
Xu said on Facebook he was sentenced to three weeks’ jail on Thursday.
“I am opting to serve my sentence with immediate effect and not asking for a stay of sentence even though I am appealing against the conviction,” he wrote.
“I am not afraid of the jail sentence imposed upon me and strongly deny the charge placed before me.”
