Lee Kuan Yew’s youngest son says Britain gave him permission…

LONDON (AP) — Lee Hsien Yangthe estranged brother of former Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Tuesday he is now a “political refugee” after the British government granted him asylum from what he described as persecution at home.

The Lee brothers are the sons of Singapore’s first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, widely regarded as the city-state’s modern founder. Since 2017, they have been embroiled in a public row over the late patriarch’s home, and Lee Hsien Yang has accused the Singapore government of persecuting him, his wife and his son.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, he said he was seeking asylum protection in 2022 “as a last resort.”

“The Singapore government’s attacks on me are in the open. They prosecuted my son, initiated disciplinary proceedings against my wife and launched a bogus police investigation that dragged on for years,” he wrote. “Based on these facts, Britain has determined that I pose a reasonable risk of persecution and cannot safely return to Singapore.”

“I remain a citizen of Singapore and hope that one day it will be safe to return home,” he added.

The Guardian published an interview with Lee Hsien Yang on Tuesday in which he strongly criticized the Singaporean government, claiming it facilitated money laundering.

“People need to look beyond Singapore’s bold, false claims and see what the reality really is,” he said. trades, for black money, for drug money, cryptocurrency.”

The Singapore government said in a statement that there was no basis for the allegations in the Guardian report. The city-state has a “robust system to deter and address money laundering and other illicit financial flows, which is consistent with international standards,” the report said.

“In Singapore, no one is above the law. “Anyone, including the descendants of the founding Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, may be investigated and brought to justice,” it added.

Lee Hsien Yang and his sister, Lee Wei Ling, who died earlier this month, accuse their eldest brother of abusing his power to stop them from demolishing the family home in accordance with the wishes of their father, who died in 2015 after ruling Singapore with an iron grip for more than three decades.

The family feud left Lee Hsien Yang and his wife embroiled in official investigations into allegations that the couple provided false evidence in legal proceedings relating to Lee Kuan Yew’s will.

Lee Hsien Loong stepped down in May after 20 years at the helm. He handed over power to his deputy, Laurens Wongbut still holds a cabinet post as a senior minister.

Lee Hsien Yang joined the opposition party in the 2020 general election, saying the ruling party led by his brother had “lost its way.”

The British Home Office did not immediately comment when asked about Lee Hsien Yang’s asylum status.

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Eileen Ng reported from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.