Did you guys know that a similar case had happened in 1998? Here's the 1998 article (from
http://www.dpa.org.sg/news/news_december_1998-4.htm):
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NKF chief gets public apology
AN AERO-MODELLING instructor has apologised in two newspapers today for making "false and defamatory allegations" against the chief executive officer of the National Kidney Foundation (NKF).
In a statement yesterday, NKF said the man who placed the notices, Mr Piragasam Singaravelu, had alleged that he saw the NKF CEO, Mr T. T. Durai, travelling first-class on Singapore Airlines and had insinuated that Mr Durai had used NKF funds meant for patients.
In the apology notice,which appears in The Straits Times and Lianhe Zaobao today, Mr Piragasam admitted that he had lied and "concocted false allegations" against Mr Durai.
He also retracted his statements, which he described as "mean, laced with venom" and "calculated to insult and humiliate Mr Durai without any just cause whatsoever and without any regard to the truth".
Mr Piragasam had scrawled his statements in an NKF appeal letter to him for donations dated March 16. On it, he said he had seen Mr Durai in SIA's First Class cabin, adding: "Now,if you could travel economy like some CEOs do, then you may not have to beg so much! Kidney patients would benefit through your sacrifice. Get it?"
The foundation received his reply on March 18. It was circulated in the office before reaching Mr Durai.
NKF said that Mr Durai then asked his secretary to inform Mr Piragasam that the allegations were untrue.
Mr Alwyn Lim, the NKF's finance committee chairman, contacted Mr Piragasam and offered him access to NKF's financial accounts.
Both times, Mr Piragasam did not apologise or retract his allegations. Nor did he take up the offer to inspect NKF's accounts. Mr Durai then initiated legal action against Mr Piragasam.
Last month, Mr Piragasam admitted he had lied and paid an undisclosed sum in damages and legal costs to Mr Durai, which the CEO has donated to NKF.
In the NKF statement, Mr Durai said he had taken action against Mr Piragasam because it was not simply a personal attack on his character. Left unchallenged, such allegations would erode the foundation's status and affect the care of its patients.
"Public sympathy towards the foundation would diminish, and along with it, crucial donations vital to its operation," said Mr Durai.
This is not the first time that the NKF chief has received a public apology.
An ex-volunteer, Mr Archie Ong Liang Gay, took out a notice in two newspapers earlier this year for making the same allegation: That Mr Durai abused public donations to travel first-class.
An NKF spokesman said Mr Durai does not travel first-class. He flies economy on short-haul flights and business class on long-haul flights.