August 18, 2017, 10:04 AM 
After many twists and turns, the Lee family Korean drama saga continues, albeit with a different storyline. It is no longer about the demolition of the late Lee Kuan Yew's house at 38 Oxley Road.
The focus has now shifted to a third generation family member who keeps speaking his mind.
Li Shengwu, the nephew of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, has revealed that he had left Singapore in July to return to the United States, after his friends had warned him that they were concerned about his safety if he remained in Singapore.
Speaking to Reuters in an exclusive interview held at his Harvard University office, the post-doctoral fellow did not identify his friends or disclose whether if they had specific information.
"In Singapore, it is possible that one can be detained and interrogated for some time without a lawyer.”
“My friends had warned me that they were concerned for my safety if I remained in Singapore."
Contempt of Court Proceedings
The Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) had begun contempt of court proceedings against Li in Singapore’s High Court on Aug. 4, after he failed to remove a Jul. 15 private Facebook post or apologise for making comments suggesting that Singapore’s courts were not independent.
PM Lee’s Press Secretary Chang Li Lin told Reuters that it was “not accurate” to make points about detention and interrogation.
"This is a well-established legal process. Clear laws and procedures apply to all cases of contempt, including this case involving Mr Li."
"The courts will decide on the merits of the case."
According to Reuters, Li was in Singapore to attend a friend’s birthday celebrations but he missed those to leave Singapore on July 23, more than a week sooner than he had planned. He had received the letter of demand from AGC two days before his departure.
In another interview with Reuters earlier, he was quoted saying that he has no plans to return to Singapore and would defend himself with legal representation in Singapore.
[related_story]
Too Much Control by PAP
Li's legal entanglement is related to an explosive family feud that had played out in the open since Jun. 14.
His father, Lee Hsien Yang, and his aunt Lee Wei Ling have accused their older brother, PM Lee, of opposing their father's (Li's grandfather) wish to have his house demolished.
They also claimed that PM Lee wanted to turn it into a monument and that “the organs of the state” have been used against them.
PM Lee has denied any abuse of state power, and reiterated that he is not involved in the decision-making over the future of the house.
But Li questioned in his latest interview whether the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) "has too much control", and called for more room for “healthy, loyal dissent” in Singapore.
“I worry that Singapore’s ruling party tries too hard to maintain a monopoly on credibility”
The Family Feud Is A "Tragedy"
Li has also revealed interesting insights that painted a harmonious Lee family as recently as a few years ago.
He said his grandfather’s home was a regular gathering place for his family. Sunday lunch together was a regular fixture when he was growing up.
“There was a table for the adults and the children would read books or play games.”
“I saw my uncle (PM Lee) and my cousins a lot growing up. I’d say we all got along well as late as three or four years ago ... The tragedy of this is that this is not what my grandfather would have wanted.”
It looks like there'll be more episodes to this Korean drama.
Here are some equally interesting but totally unrelated stories:
10 investment terms to know so you can finally read annual reports in peace
5 so-called crazy things people could do if they were given $100,000 to save the environment
How to not ruin your holiday when signing up for tour packages
Who looks after our ailing seniors outside of general hospitals?
Related Articles
Li Shengwu calls S’pore govt “petty” after AGC said it’s looking into his Facebook post
Li Shengwu responds after AGC takes contempt of court action against him
Top image via screenshot from PMO YouTube.
If you like what you read, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Telegram to get the latest updates.