CPF blogger Roy Ngerng, 34, was ordered by the Supreme Court to pay S$150,000 in damages to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong for defamation. This comprises S$100,000 in general damages and S$50,000 in aggravated damages.

S$150,000 in damages is considered low in the history of defamation law suits by political leaders in Singapore.

For instance, the late JB Jeyaretnam lost defamation a suit over a Workers' Party (WP) article in 1998 and was ordered to pay $265,000 (not adjusted for inflation).

Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) chief Chee Soon Juan owed former PMs Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong $500,000 in damages (later reduced to $30,000 in 2012) for defaming them during the 2001 General Election.

Anyway, here is how Justice Lee Seiu Kin helped Roy Ngerng pay less in damages by rubbing more salt in Ngerng's wounds. 

1. Ngerng is not exactly an influencer (compared to the likes of Opposition MP JB Jeyaretnam and SDP Chief Chee, who were ordered to pay more in damages to the former PMs)

"While the cases indicate that the damages awarded to Prime Ministers who have been defamed have been substantial, some in excess of S$300,000, none of them involved a defendant of modest standing. The comparatively low standing of the defendant warranted a substantial reduction." Justice Lee, Channel NewsAsia

2. Ngerng defame PM Lee for page views

"It was likely that the defendant had cynically defamed the plaintiff in order to increase viewership of the blog."Justice Lee, Channel NewsAsia

According to CNA, blog statistics indicated that Ngerng's article was read by at least 37,223 individuals.

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Ngerng was found to have defamed PM Lee in a summary judgement issued in November 2014. The offending blogpost juxtaposed a Channel NewsAsia chart detailing the relationship between City Harvest Church (CHC) leaders facing trial for misuse of church funds against his own chart detailing ties between the CPF, PM Lee, and GIC, which PM Lee chairs.

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3. Even if Ngerng is popular, it does not necessarily translate to influence.

His "portrayal of himself as the voice of truth were not indicative of his standing amongst Singaporeans" There was "no evidence of his perceived credibility or the influence he actually wielded."  Justice Lee, Channel NewsAsia

"Notwithstanding his attempts to fashion himself as an investigative journalist of sorts, the defendant has never sought to conceal the fact that he is merely an ordinary citizen writing on his personal blog...There was no pretence that he had any information that others were not privy to that would have lent credence to his allegations." Justice Lee, The Straits Times

And this observation by Justice Lee really stings:

"The words of a dishevelled tramp in a street corner would be far less capable of causing damage than that of the CEO of a multi-national company." Justice Lee, Channel NewsAsia

According to media reports, Chang Li Lin, Press Secretary to PM, said that PM Lee accepts the judgment and award of the court.

And Ngerng?

He wrote on his Facebook page that he will discuss his next steps with his lawyer.

In the meantime, he contemplates a career switch as a photographer and videographer.