11-10-2024 (SINGAPORE) The Singapore Police Force has clarified that Lee Hsien Yang, the younger son of Singapore’s founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, and his wife Lee Suet Fern are free to return to the city-state at any time.
The police statement, issued on Friday in response to media inquiries, emphasised that “They are and have always been free to return to Singapore.” This declaration comes amidst renewed public interest in the couple’s status following the recent passing of Lee’s sister, Dr Lee Wei Ling.
Lee Hsien Yang had previously announced that he would not be attending his sister’s wake and funeral in Singapore, opting instead to organise the proceedings remotely with assistance from his son, Huanwu. The couple are currently residing in the United Kingdom, having left Singapore in June 2022.
The police disclosure also shed light on an unresolved matter from June 2022, when the couple were requested to assist in investigations by attending an interview. According to the authorities, “They had initially agreed but in the end did not turn up for the scheduled interview, left Singapore on 15 June 2022, and have not returned since.”
This latest development adds another chapter to the ongoing saga involving the Lee family, which has captivated public attention in Singapore for several years. In 2020, both Lee Hsien Yang and Lee Suet Fern were found by the Court of Three Judges and a disciplinary tribunal to have provided false testimony under oath during disciplinary proceedings against Lee Suet Fern. These proceedings concerned her handling of the late Lee Kuan Yew’s final will.
The couple’s prolonged absence from Singapore has fueled speculation about their relationship with the country’s authorities. In a Facebook post dated March 2023, Lee Hsien Yang expressed doubts about his potential return to Singapore, stating that he “may never return.”
This police statement appears to be an attempt to clarify the couple’s legal standing and their right to re-enter the country. However, it remains unclear whether Lee Hsien Yang and Lee Suet Fern intend to take up this offer to return, particularly given the complex family dynamics and ongoing legal issues.
