Li Shengwu, a junior fellow at Harvard University, is a based in the United States. (PHOTO: Reuters)

Lawyers acting on behalf of academic Li Shengwu are challenging an order that enabled the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) to personally serve court papers on him despite him being overseas.

At a pre-trial conference on Monday (4 December), Li’s lawyers from Providence Law Asia informed the High Court that they are applying to set aside the ex parte order – which refers to an order obtained by an application made by a party without reference to the other side.

They explained that they needed time to address the “novel grounds” that the AGC relied on to justify serving the papers out of jurisdiction.

Li, a junior fellow at Harvard University, is based in the United States. He is also the eldest son of Lee Hsien Yang and nephew of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

The Court directed Li’s lawyers to file their client’s challenge by 22 December. A further PTC has also been fixed for 4 January 2018 to take further directions in the matter.

The AGC is currently undertaking contempt of court proceedings against Li. The case stems from a Facebook post in July this year made by Li, which allegedly attacked Singapore’s judiciary. Li has denied doing so.

Li’s lawyers told Yahoo News Singapore that they have now reviewed all the court papers filed by the AGC to date, which are in excess of 1,300 pages.

Source: Yahoo News