During yesterday’s first hearing of the trial at the Court of First Instance (TJB) in which the developer for the ill-fated Pearl Horizon residential project – Polytex Import and Export Company Ltd. – is accusing the local weekly newspaper Son Pou of defamation, insult and libel over a raft of articles concerning the project in Areia Preta. The weekly’s editor-in-chief, Lei Kong, the author of the commentaries, told the hearing that he did not have the intent of defaming the developer, claiming that the latter was merely trying to stop him from continuing to write articles about the long-running Pearl Horizon row by suing the newspaper.
The two defendants of the case – Lei and the newspaper’s director Chao Chong Peng – said during the hearing yesterday afternoon that they did not have any conflict of interest concerning the Pearl Horizon residential project.
The two defendants denied all the accusations against them by the developer.
Son Pou editor-in-chief Lei Kong (left) and director Chao Chong Peng pose for media photos after yesterday’s first hearing of their trial at the Court of First Instance (TJB) over alleged defamation, insult and libel by Polytex Import and Export Company Ltd. Photo: Maria Cheang Ut Meng
