Singapore
Ben Leong launches NGO with S$700K in funding to fight “frivolous lawsuits” amid personal legal battles
Ben Leong, an NUS academic, has announced Lionheart Advocates, an NGO designed to assist individuals facing “frivolous lawsuits.” The organisation, which has already raised S$700,000, marks Leong’s public push against what he claims is legal system abuse—while he himself faces a lawsuit.
Associate Professor Ben Leong from the National University of Singapore (NUS) has launched Lionheart Advocates, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) aimed at supporting individuals facing “frivolous lawsuits” and preventing what Leong describes as the abuse of the legal system.
The announcement, made on 9 February 2025 through Facebook, comes as Leong himself faces a lawsuit from Iris Koh, founder of the anti-vaccine group Healing the Divide.
Lionheart Advocates has already raised approximately S$700,000 (US$517,000), with most of the funds coming from a single donation of 5 BTC (bitcoin) by one of Leong’s former students.
Delays in converting the cryptocurrency, due to Singapore’s stringent anti-money laundering laws, led to the donation appreciating in value. At the time of conversion, one BTC was worth S$131,400, boosting the total amount available to the NGO.
The funds are used to support legal defences by disbursing money directly to law firms representing individuals targeted by lawsuits.
Two law firms, including TSMP Law Corporation, are currently working with Lionheart Advocates, with TSMP providing pro bono legal services.
Leong praised Senior Counsel Thio Shen Yi and his legal team for joining the initiative, saying the NGO’s mission is to protect individuals who may be unfairly targeted by baseless legal actions.
“We will not stand idly by when unscrupulous individuals try to abuse the legal system to make money out of innocent victims,” Leong said.
Fighting back against “lawfare”
The launch of Lionheart Advocates comes amid growing concerns over the abuse of court processes in Singapore.
On 13 November 2024, parliament passed amendments to the Administration of Justice (Protection) Act (AOJPA) to address the issue, explicitly stating that abusing court processes could amount to contempt of court.
During the parliamentary debate on the amendments, Minister of State for Law Murali Pillai noted a rise in cases involving “lawfare,” where legal proceedings are used to harass, intimidate, or pressure defendants into settlements.
He warned that such misuse could erode trust in the legal system over time if left unchecked.
Lionheart Advocates fits into this broader legal landscape, positioning itself as a safeguard against such abuses.
However, Leong’s personal involvement in a legal dispute adds a layer of scrutiny to the NGO’s mission. He has acknowledged the lawsuit from Koh but said he has taken the necessary steps to address it with his legal team.
Iris Koh raises questions about NGO’s scope
Iris Koh, who is suing Leong, took to social media to publicly question whether Lionheart Advocates would apply its resources evenhandedly, particularly in cases involving government-related lawsuits.
In a comment on CNA’s Facebook page, Koh asked:
“If I called PAP a ‘terrorist organisation’ and kena sued by PAP, would Minister of State for Law Murali Pillai tell CNA it’s a vexatious lawsuit? Can Lionheart Advocates NGO help me to defend against PAP? Ben Leong, hope you can answer so more people will know what your new NGO is about.”
Koh’s comment raises questions about how Lionheart Advocates will determine eligibility for support, particularly in cases where ordinary individuals or entities are sued by People’s Action Party (PAP) ministers on questionable grounds under Singapore’s lenient defamation laws.
