TERRENCE FERNANDEZ v TAN AIK HONG THOMAS

[2026] SGDC 5 District Court 16 January 2026 • DC/OC 1139/2022 • 67 min read
15 cases cited (12 SG, 3 foreign)

Catchwords

Practice Areas

Judges (1)

Counsel (7)

Parties (2)

Case Significance

[2026] SGDC 5 is a District Court decision dated 16 January 2026 concerning Tort, specifically addressing defamation. The judgment was delivered by Ng Tee Tze Allen. The case was brought by Terrence Fernandez (plaintiff) against Tan Aik Hong Thomas (defendant). Legal representation was provided by Luo Ling Ling LLC and Bih Li & Lee LLP. The judgment cites 15 cases (12 Singapore, 3 foreign) and references 1 statutory provision, namely the Defamation Act.

Summary

A former president of Serangoon Garden Country Club sued a former club president for defamation over statements made after an Extraordinary General Meeting. On remittal from the High Court which had overturned the District Judge's earlier jurisdictional finding, the court dismissed the claim, holding the defendant succeeded in both the defences of justification and qualified privilege, as his statements about the claimant's governance failures were substantially true.

What was decided in [2026] SGDC 5?

[2026] SGDC 5 (TERRENCE FERNANDEZ v TAN AIK HONG THOMAS) is a District Court decision from 16 January 2026 addressing Tort, specifically defamation. The judgment was delivered by Ng Tee Tze Allen.

Who were the parties in TERRENCE FERNANDEZ v TAN AIK HONG THOMAS?

The plaintiff in [2026] SGDC 5 was Terrence Fernandez, and the defendant was Tan Aik Hong Thomas. Legal representation included Bih Li & Lee LLP and Luo Ling Ling LLC. The case was decided on 16 January 2026 in the District Court.

Which judge decided [2026] SGDC 5?

[2026] SGDC 5 was delivered by Ng Tee Tze Allen in the District Court on 16 January 2026. The case concerned Tort.

What cases and statutes does [2026] SGDC 5 cite?

[2026] SGDC 5 cites 15 prior decisions, including 3 from foreign jurisdictions. It references Defamation Act.

Statutes Cited

Defamation Act
s 5

Cases Cited (15)

SG (5)
[2000] SGHC 111 [2017] SGDC 324 [2018] SGHC 115 [2025] SGDC 1 [2025] SGHC 169
SLR (7)
[1996] 1 SLR(R) 258 [2008] 2 SLR(R) 1004 [2010] 1 SLR 52 [2010] 3 SLR 110 [2010] 4 SLR 331 [2013] 1 SLR 1016 [2014] 4 SLR 1117
UK (3)
[1894] 1 QB 133 [1969] 2 QB 375 [1975] AC 135

Judgment

Read the full judgment on the official Singapore Courts portal.

Read on eLitigation

Source: eLitigation ([2026] SGDC 5)