Wednesday, July 13, 2005
NKF's administration brought to public scrutiny in case against SPH
Source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/157420/1/.html
Disclaimer: I do not condemn or commend.
NKF's administration brought to public scrutiny in case against SPH
By S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia
SINGAPORE : The National Kidney Foundation's (NKF) defamation suit against the Singapore Press Holdings has opened in the High Court.
The case centres around an article in the Straits Times published on 19 April 2004 entitled "The NKF Controversially ahead of its time".
And first to take the stand was the NKF's CEO, TT Durai who made some startling revelations during cross examination by SPH's Senior Counsel Davinder Singh.
The article in question was written by SPH's journalist Susan Long, whom NKF is also suing.
It had an account of a contractor who had been hired to install some bathroom fittings for its new headquarters in 1995.
NKF says the article had many falsehoods and half truths. But Monday's hearing was more than just about toilet fittings.
It was a public scrutiny of how the NKF is administered and run, the travel patterns of its senior executives and the chief executive officer, and what salaries were paid to the CEO in the last three years.
The court heard that CEO Durai got a twelve month bonus last year. And between 2002 and 2004, he would have earned close to S$1.8 million.
From the outset, Senior Counsel Davinder Singh who is acting for SPH, emphasized the importance of transparency and public accountability on NKF's part as every cent which NKF spent came from public donations.
Several senior officials from NKF were in court to follow the proceedings, including its patron Mrs Goh Chok Tong. - CNA /ls
Disclaimer: I do not condemn or commend.
NKF's administration brought to public scrutiny in case against SPH
By S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia
SINGAPORE : The National Kidney Foundation's (NKF) defamation suit against the Singapore Press Holdings has opened in the High Court.
The case centres around an article in the Straits Times published on 19 April 2004 entitled "The NKF Controversially ahead of its time".
And first to take the stand was the NKF's CEO, TT Durai who made some startling revelations during cross examination by SPH's Senior Counsel Davinder Singh.
The article in question was written by SPH's journalist Susan Long, whom NKF is also suing.
It had an account of a contractor who had been hired to install some bathroom fittings for its new headquarters in 1995.
NKF says the article had many falsehoods and half truths. But Monday's hearing was more than just about toilet fittings.
It was a public scrutiny of how the NKF is administered and run, the travel patterns of its senior executives and the chief executive officer, and what salaries were paid to the CEO in the last three years.
The court heard that CEO Durai got a twelve month bonus last year. And between 2002 and 2004, he would have earned close to S$1.8 million.
From the outset, Senior Counsel Davinder Singh who is acting for SPH, emphasized the importance of transparency and public accountability on NKF's part as every cent which NKF spent came from public donations.
Several senior officials from NKF were in court to follow the proceedings, including its patron Mrs Goh Chok Tong. - CNA /ls
