Runner Soh's ex-lawyer says Facebook post defamatory

Singapore distance runner Soh Rui Yong is facing a defamation suit from his former lawyer Clarence Lun over comments made in a Facebook post.

- Kimberly Kwek

The founder of Fervent Chambers LLC is seeking $180,000 in damages, a removal of the post, a public apology, and a court injunction to prevent future similar statements.

Lun alleged that the post, which was published on Aug 25, 2024, put him in a negative light, despite not being named directly.

In Soh's post, the two-time SEA Games marathon champion shared his experiences and frustrations of having "to deal" with various lawyers over the years.

The 33-year-old athlete suggested that these lawyers were "dishonest" and "incompetent", but did not name any individuals.

Lun contended that he can be identified from the post due to references to a lawyer who had been suspended from practice.

On Oct 10, 2022, Lun was handed an 18-month suspension, from Nov 7, 2022 to May 5, 2024, for acting as a supervising solicitor of practice trainees without the necessary qualifications, but he emphasised that the Court of Three Judges which heard the case then did not find him "dishonest in respect of the misconduct which led to the suspension".