TERRENCE FERNANDEZ v TAN AIK HONG THOMAS

[2026] SGDC 5 District Court 16 January 2026 DC/OC 1139/2022

15 cases cited (12 SG, 3 foreign)

Key facts

Court	District Court
Decided	16 January 2026
Judge	Ng Tee Tze Allen
Charges / claim	Tort
Counsel	Bih Li & Lee LLP, Luo Ling Ling LLC, Anthony Lee Hwee Khiam, Joshua Ho, Luo Ling Ling, Ng Rui Wen, Wang Liansheng

Source: [2026] SGDC 5, District Court, decided 16 January 2026 — eLitigation. Updated 10 July 2026.

Catchwords

Tort — Defamation — Fair comment Tort — Defamation — Justification Tort — Defamation — Qualified privilege Tort — Defamation — Defamatory statements Tort — Defamation — Whether claim in slander is actionable pursuant to section 5 of the Defamation Act 1957

Practice Areas

Tort

Judges (1)

Ng Tee Tze Allen Delivered

Counsel (7)

Bih Li & Lee LLP Firm Luo Ling Ling LLC Firm

Anthony Lee Hwee Khiam Counsel for the defendant

Joshua Ho Counsel for the plaintiff

Luo Ling Ling Counsel for the plaintiff Ng Rui Wen Counsel for the defendant Wang Liansheng Counsel for the defendant

Parties (2)

Tan Aik Hong Thomas Defendant

Terrence Fernandez Plaintiff

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 ([2026] SGDC 5)?

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.