LONDON (AP) — Lee Hsien YangFormer Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s estranged brother said on Tuesday that he was now a “political refugee” after the UK 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, who is considered the modern founding father of the city-state. They have been publicly arguing over the late patriarch’s family home since 2017, and Lee Hsien Yang accused the Singapore government of persecuting him, his wife and son.

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

“The Singapore government’s attacks against me are on the public record. “They filed a lawsuit against my son, a disciplinary investigation against my wife, and a sham police investigation that lasted for years,” he wrote. “Based on these facts, the United Kingdom has determined that I face a well-founded risk of persecution and cannot safely return to Singapore.”

“I remain a Singaporean citizen 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 harshly criticized the Singapore government and claimed it facilitated money laundering.

“People need to look beyond Singapore’s bold and false claims and see what the truth is really like.” black money, drug money, cryptocurrency trade.”

The Singapore government said in a statement that the allegations in the Guardian report had no basis. It said the city-state had “a robust system, consistent with international standards, to deter and combat money laundering and other illicit financial flows.”

“No one is above the law in Singapore. Anyone, including the children of founding prime minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew, can be investigated and brought to court.” expressions were used.

Lee Hsien Yang, who died earlier this month, and his sister Lee Wei Ling accuse their older brother of abusing his power to prevent them from demolishing the family home in accordance with the wishes of their father, who died after ruling Singapore in 2015. Iron grip for over thirty years.

The family feud led to Lee Hsien Yang and his wife becoming embroiled in official investigations over allegations that the duo presented false evidence in judicial proceedings regarding Lee Kuan Yew’s will.

Lee Hsien Loong resigned in May after two decades in power. He handed over his duties to his assistant Lawrence Wongbut he still retains his Cabinet post as a senior minister.

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

The UK 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.