Singapore High Court Schedules Final Oral Submissions for Bloomberg Defamation Lawsuit on May 22

The Singapore High Court will hear oral submissions on May 22 regarding the defamation suit by two ministers against Bloomberg. Details on the GCB trial.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 16, 2026, 11:40 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Straits Times

Judiciary Sets Date for Closing Arguments

The defamation proceedings initiated by two senior Singaporean Cabinet ministers against the global news organization Bloomberg have reached a critical procedural milestone. According to a spokesperson for the judiciary, the High Court has scheduled oral submissions for May 22, following a private hearing held in chambers on April 16. This upcoming session will allow legal teams from both sides to synthesize the extensive testimony gathered during the seven-day trial that commenced earlier this month.

Testimony From Senior Government Officials

The trial phase, which began on April 7, featured prominent figures from the Singaporean government taking the witness stand to testify. Coordinating Minister for National Security K. Shanmugam and Manpower Minister Tan See Leng appeared as plaintiffs to address the claims made in the disputed report. Their presence in court underscores the significant stakes of the litigation, as they seek to address the narrative presented in the media regarding their private real estate investments and the perceived transparency of those transactions.

Defense From the Media Sector

In response to the ministers' claims, Bloomberg News presented its own witnesses to defend the journalistic integrity and intent of the published work. Senior executive editor Madeleine Lim and journalist Low De Wei testified for the defense, providing context on the editorial process and the reporting behind the article. According to the defendants' joint opening statement, the report originated from an observation of broader market trends in Singapore’s luxury bungalow sector rather than a targeted investigation into the individual ministers.