National Kidney Foundation (NKF) 's CEO Mr. T.T. Durai sued Singapore Press Holdings and one of its reporters for defamation. But revelations in the court proceedings threw the entire nation into an uproar.

NKF is a non-profitable, voluntary health organisation which seeks to prevent kidney and urinary tract diseases and to improve the health and well-being of individuals and families affected by these diseases. And being a non-profitatble organisation, it seeks funds from the public through fund raising events like the annual NKF Charity Shows etc.

This is all very commendable since their main objective is to help patients and families affected by kidney diseases.

It all started with an article written by a SPH's reporter. I didn't read it but apparently the reporter questioned the transparency of handling the donation money and the justification of luxurious renovations to the CEO's office. Well, Durai decided to sue SPH for defamation.

But during the court proceedings, it was revealed that the CEO, Mr. Durai, gets $25,000 per month, 10 to 12 months bonus, travels via First Class or Business Class for overseas trips, has 8 Mercedes at his personal disposal and other undisclosed directorship fees. Wow!

And all the while the public was misled to believe that without our continual donations, the reserve funds will last only 3 years. But again in the court, they did some calculations and realised that even if all fundings were to stop immediately the reserve is enough to last for more than 20 years!

Two days after the court proceedings, Duari withdrew his suits.

But damage was already done. Thousands withdrew their monthly contributions. NKF Building was vandalised. Tens of thousands petitions for Durai's resignation. Many lost faith in the charitable organizations here. Well, yesterday the NKF Board and Durai resigned under tremendous public pressure.

The best part of this whole thing was none of these would have come to light if Durai had not been so cocky and sued SPH.

This is called.... Digging one's own grave.

The new NKF board & CEO will have a lot of damage control to do. Good luck to them!