Lawsuits and legal fees may have led to suicide of Singapore woman, court hears

SINGAPORE: On 7 November, a Singapore coroner’s court heard that multiple lawsuits and escalating legal fees may have driven 46-year-old Geno Ong Kay Yong to suicide on 6 September 2024.

Known by her social media alias “Mai Siao Siao,” Ms Ong left behind two notes attributing her death to legal actions taken by businessman Raymond Ng, who is associated with the anti-vaccine group “Healing the Divide.”

Deputy Senior State Counsel Teo Lu Jia presented the case, alongside Inspector Jeremy Kuan, the lead investigator.

Insp. Kuan revealed that Ms Ong had scheduled a Facebook post on the day of her death, in which she detailed her distress over lawsuits initiated by “RN of Healing the Divide,” later confirmed to be Mr Ng.

In her post, Ms Ong accused Mr Ng of financially draining her with his repeated lawsuits, leaving her with legal costs close to S$100,000.

She believed that Mr Ng and his wife, Iris Koh, was targeting ordinary Singaporeans, using lawsuits to intimidate them so they could get the money.

She described how the prolonged legal battles had severely affected her health, leading to symptoms like hair loss, blurred vision, memory lapses, and numbness.

However, due to her escalating legal fees, she could not afford the medical care she needed.

Insp. Kuan disclosed that Mr Ng had filed four legal proceedings against Ms Ong between 2021 and her death.

The first defamation case, filed on 24 August 2021, stemmed from Ms Ong’s Facebook posts alleging Mr Ng’s involvement in fraudulent business activities.

During this period, Mr Ng also applied for an expedited protection order against Ms Ong, although he later withdrew this request.

A second defamation lawsuit was filed in June 2024, with Mr Ng seeking six-figure compensation in both cases.

He declined mediation, asserting that Ms Ong continued to publicly defame him.

In response to questioning from State Coroner Adam Nakhoda, Insp. Kuan estimated Ms Ong’s legal fees ranged between S$55,000 and S$65,000.

The coroner’s findings are expected on 12 December.

Mr Ng and Ms Koh deny responsibility for Ms Ong’s suicide

Mr Ng, the businessman at the centre of Ms Ong’s allegations, responded to the news of her death in a blog post titled “Suicide Due to Fear of Criminal Prosecution – Geno Ong Took Her Own Life (畏罪自杀).”

He expressed his shock and sadness at her passing but denied any responsibility for her suicide.

Mr Ng explained that his lawsuits against Ms Ong were based on serious defamation allegations, particularly those involving government officers from the Ministry of Health (MOH), Ministry of Manpower (MOM), and the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS).

He claimed that Ms Ong had falsely accused him of criminal activities and spread rumors that he was being targeted by authorities.

Mr Ng emphasized that his legal actions were intended to protect his reputation, not to cause harm.

Ms Koh also addressed the accusations in a blog post on “Healing the Divide.”

Ms Koh expressed her sadness over Ms Ong’s death but refuted claims that she or her husband were responsible for the tragedy.

She clarified that she had never met or spoken to Ms Ong, describing the ongoing defamation as relentless and damaging.

Ms Koh further explained that Ms Ong had access to legal representation and had spent significant amounts on legal fees, while Mr Ng had pursued his lawsuits without a lawyer.

She argued that if Mr Ng’s case had been baseless, Ms Ong’s legal team could have easily struck it out.

Ms Koh expressed frustration that, despite the opportunity to resolve the matter through legal means, Ms Ong had chosen to escalate the situation.

She also rejected claims that they had targeted average Singaporeans, reiterating that their lawsuits were based on defamation, not malice.

Concerns rise over misuse of legal system

This tragic case has prompted broader concerns about the potential misuse of legal processes for personal gain.

Former Nominated Member of Parliament Calvin Cheng called for a review of Singapore’s Simplified Civil Process, which was originally designed to cap legal costs and make justice more accessible.

Mr Cheng argued that this system inadvertently allows individuals with resources to file lawsuits cheaply while leaving vulnerable individuals exposed to financial and emotional strain.

He urged the authorities to reform the system to prevent cases like Ms Ong’s, where repeated lawsuits can push individuals to settle simply to avoid the emotional and financial toll of prolonged legal battles.