SINGAPORE: The legal arena is heating up as national athlete Soh Rui Yong faces a defamation lawsuit from his former lawyer, Clarence Lun, who claims that comments made by the runner on social media have seriously harmed his reputation.

The dramatic twist comes in the wake of a Facebook post made by Soh in August 2024, where he characterized three lawyers as "dishonest and incompetent" — a statement that Lun argues is not only false but also deeply damaging.

The lawsuit follows a tumultuous period for Soh, who previously engaged Lun in his defense against two separate defamation cases. However, after making the switch to legal representation by Mr. Eugene Thuraisingam, Soh's relationship with Lun soured.

While Lun was not mentioned directly in the post, he asserts that the public could deduce his identity based on prior references and the context of the accusations.

Adding to the intrigue, Lun was himself suspended from practicing law for 18 months in October 2022 due to misconduct involving supervising trainee solicitors without proper qualifications.

He alleges that the Facebook post not only maligned his character but also included pointed references to his personal struggles, inferring a malicious intent behind Soh's words.

Lun highlighted his legal achievements, including high-stakes insolvency cases, and claimed that his professional reputation has suffered significantly due to Soh’s post.

He has officially requested compensation of S$180,000, a court order to retract the post, and an injunction to prevent similar claims in the future.

Soh's Troubling History:

This case adds to the laundry list of legal challenges faced by Soh Rui Yong.

Notably, he also lost a defamation lawsuit against former Singapore Athletic Association executive director Malik Aljunied in June 2022.

Furthermore, he was ordered to pay damages to chiropractor Ashley Liew following a High Court ruling unfavorable to him earlier that year.

As it stands, Soh's legal team led by Akesh Abhilash has vehemently denied Lun's allegations.

They argue that the claim cannot hold water, stating that readers would not make intricate connections from his post to personally identify Mr. Lun.

They assert that his claims of Lun’s professional failure and personal misfortunes are unfounded and irrelevant, as evidenced by the broad audience of the post, which attracted significant engagement from Soh’s 19,000 followers.

The Battle Rages On:

As the legal tussle escalates, both parties appear steadfast in their positions.

Soh's side has described Lun's interpretation of the post as a desperate reaction to revelations of alleged dishonest practices during their attorney-client relationship.

They detail grievances about Lun's performance and handling of court matters while they were working together.

Clarence Lun, on the other hand, has called the allegations against him “scandalous” and insists on addressing them through appropriate legal channels.

This ongoing saga not only spotlights the complexities of defamation law in Singapore but also raises questions about the implications of social media on public figures.

As developments unfold, the sports and legal communities are closely watching how this case will impact not just Soh Rui Yong's career but also the reputation of those who navigate the fraught waters of legal representation in high-stakes scenarios.

Will Soh manage to clear his name, or will the weight of the legal accusations bring him down? Stay tuned!