No legal restraints to Lee Hsien Yang & Lee Suet Fern returning to S'pore: SPF

There are no legal restraints to Lee Hsien Yang and his wife Lee Suet Fern returning to Singapore, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) clarified on Oct. 11, in response to media queries.

This comes after the news that Lee Hsien Yang said he will not return to Singapore for his sister Lee Wei Ling's wake and funeral.

In response, the police said: "They are and always have been free to return to Singapore."

Previously, SPF had asked both Lee and his wife to assist in investigations by attending an interview over potential offences of giving false evidence.

While the couple initially agreed to the interview, they did not turn up for the scheduled interview and left Singapore on Jun. 15, 2022.

They have not returned since.

Lee said he would be "organising the funeral remotely" in accordance with his late sister's wishes, and his second son, Li Huanwu, would assist him from Singapore.

On Oct. 9, Lee Wei Ling, the daughter of first prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, passed away at home on Oct. 9, 2024.

The wake will be held from Oct. 10 to Oct. 12 at the Pearl and Sapphire Hall of the Singapore Casket.

Under investigations

In 2023, Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean revealed that SPF was investigating Lee and his wife for potential offences of giving false evidence in judicial proceedings over Lee Kuan Yew's will.

Teo said the investigations came after a Court of Three Judges and a Disciplinary Tribunal found that the couple had lied under oath in November 2020 and February 2020.

Teo stated that the police had requested an interview with the couple as part of the investigations.

Teo said the couple initially agreed to attend the interview but had a change of heart and refused to attend.

"Their refusal is disappointing," Teo added.

SPF clarified on Mar. 20, 2023, how police interviews are initiated.

The police will contact the persons to be interviewed, and it may be done in various ways, such as in person, by telephone or through a letter/ email.

On Jun. 9, 2022, the police met with Lee and Suet Fern to ask them to attend an interview with the police over potential offences of giving false information.

The police also gave a letter to the couple containing information about the investigation and included a request for them to attend an interview.

"The couple was cooperative and agreed to be interviewed. They said that they would confirm the exact date of the interview subsequently," said SPF.

On Jun. 13, 2022, the couple confirmed they would be available for an interview on Jul. 13, 2022.

However, on Jul. 13, they emailed SPF stating they would not attend the interview and did not turn up for the scheduled interview.

The pair left the country on Jun. 15, 2022.

As Lee and Suet Fern appeared cooperative when first engaged by SPF and agreed to be interviewed, the police did not issue an order under the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC).

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Top photos via Getty Images & Lim Wei Xiang