The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) clarified on May 17 that Lee Hsien Yang's passport remains valid and was never seized, in response to media inquiries following a disciplinary tribunal involving Kwa Kim Li, the lawyer of Singapore's first prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew.
The tribunal report, released on May 5, had mentioned that Lee Hsien Yang's passport was allegedly being held by immigration authorities due to an immigration issue, leading to his application to give evidence via video link.
However, the ICA's statement clarified that Lee Hsien Yang's passport was never in their possession during or after the disciplinary tribunal hearing of Kwa Kim Li.
The report highlighted that Lee Hsien Yang had requested to provide evidence via video link, which was one of the issues raised prior to the hearing. However, Kwa rejected the application, stating that she would be unable to cross-examine him in person and would be disadvantaged as a result.
Lee Hsien Yang, in a video hearing for the application, explained that he was unable to travel due to circumstances beyond his control and proposed giving evidence via video link, which was a feasible solution.
The tribunal acknowledged Lee Hsien Yang's argument that not granting the application would result in unfair prejudice.
The specific date of the application and subsequent hearing was not disclosed in the report.
Despite repeated requests, Lee Hsien Yang's legal counsel declined to state why and when the passport had been handed over, information that was considered crucial by the tribunal to determine if Lee Hsien Yang's inability to travel was beyond his control or due to his own actions.
Ultimately, the tribunal approved the application for Lee Hsien Yang to provide evidence via video link after careful consideration. However, the tribunal expressed concern over his refusal to provide reasons and circumstances surrounding the lack of possession of his passport.
In the background, the tribunal found that Kwa had misled Lee Kuan Yew's children, Lee Hsien Yang and Lee Wei Ling, in her email responses to their inquiries and failed to safeguard Lee Kuan Yew's confidentiality in handling his will. Kwa was ordered to pay a penalty of S$13,000 and cover costs and disbursements to Lee Hsien Yang and The Law Society of Singapore.
Following their refusal to attend a police interview in July 2022 related to allegations of lying in judicial proceedings about Lee Kuan Yew's will, Lee Hsien Yang and his wife, Lee Suet Fern, left Singapore. Lee Hsien Yang and Lee Wei Ling are siblings of the current Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, and Lee Kuan Yew is their father.
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