IPBA member files police report over threat

SINGAPORE: A member of the Inter—Pacific Bar Association (IPBA) organising committee, which had staged the first major event at Marina Bay Sands (MBS), has filed a police report after receiving a threatening email.

Among the statements made in the email: "Move on ... unless you have a death wish".

A police spokesman told MediaCorp on Tuesday that investigations are ongoing.

The email came on May 10, four days after the committee had sent a letter to MBS seeking compensation for the glitches that occurred during its conference. The organisers had also held back payment of $300,000.

The member who received it requested that his identity not be disclosed. He told MediaCorp he was irritated by the email and informed the committee before going to the police. He believes it came from outside of Singapore.

When contacted, an MBS spokesperson said: "As Marina Bay Sands has not seen the contents of the police report and alleged email threat, we are not in a position to comment specifically on it. However, Marina Bay Sands condemns these statements and would never condone any such reprehensible statements or any unlawful behaviour of any kind."

MBS had filed a suit on March 14 against the IPBA conference organisers, demanding payment of the $300,000 owed. The IPBA conference organisers then counter—sued for aggravation and embarrassment caused by glitches such as power failures, which led to delegates being stuck in lifts and meeting venues thrown into darkness, including during an address by the Chief Justice of Australia’s New South Wales state.

On Tuesday, the IPBA committee filed a memorandum of appearance with the court, indicating that it intends to defend its position, and said it will be represented by law firm Drew and Napier. —

TODAY