LONDON — On Tuesday, Lee Hsien Yang, the estranged sibling of former Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, announced that he has been recognized as a “political refugee” by the British government, granting him asylum from what he describes as ongoing persecution in his home country.

The brothers are children of Lee Kuan Yew, the architect of modern Singapore. Their relationship has deteriorated since 2017, primarily over disputes concerning their late father’s family residence. Lee Hsien Yang has claimed that the Singaporean authorities have targeted him, along with his wife and son.

In a post on Facebook, Hsien Yang revealed that he sought asylum in 2022 as a desperate measure. He elaborated, “The Singapore government’s actions against me are a matter of public record. They prosecuted my son, initiated disciplinary actions against my wife, and have subjected us to a prolonged and unfounded police investigation.” He added that based on the evidence presented, the U.K. acknowledged a significant risk of persecution if he were to return to Singapore.

He also affirmed his loyalty to Singapore, expressing hope for a safe return in the future.

In an interview published by a major newspaper, Lee Hsien Yang leveled serious allegations against the Singaporean government, accusing it of enabling money laundering operations. “It is crucial for people to look past Singapore’s bold and misleading claims and understand the real situation on the ground,” he stated. He emphasized the necessity for global scrutiny regarding Singapore’s involvement in facilitating arms trading, laundering dirty money, and involvement in crypto transactions.

In response, the Singapore government dismissed the allegations made in the interview, asserting there is no factual grounding to them. They emphasized their stringent measures against money laundering and other illicit activities, which comply with international standards. “In Singapore, the law is applied equally. No one, including descendants of the founding prime minister, is exempt from being investigated or prosecuted,” their statement noted.

Lee Hsien Yang and his late sister, Lee Wei Ling, who passed away recently, have accused their elder brother of misusing his authority to prevent the demolition of their family home, which they believe was their father’s wish prior to his death in 2015. Lee Hsien Loong, although having stepped down from the role of Prime Minister in May, continues to serve as a Senior Minister in the Cabinet.