Former top pupil weeps in court over allegedly defamatory cheating rumour

An international school's former head boy, who is suing Development Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po and his wife for defamation, wept in court yesterday as he recalled how his family suffered from a rumour that he cheated in a test and his dream of attending Harvard University was shattered.

Jonathan Lu, 20, said the rumour spread quickly through the Chinese International School in November and December 2011 and caused him severe stress.

"I could not focus, failed to sleep, my appetite disappeared," he said.

Jonathan Lu, his twin sister Caitlin Lu and their father Carl Lu are suing Chan and his wife, Frieda Hui Po-ming, for allegedly sending emails claiming the twins escaped punishment for cheating because their father was one of the school governors.

Jonathan Lu said he had worked hard all through school in the hope of going to Harvard.

"I wanted to go to Harvard … Harvard was my dream," he said. "I didn't understand why they had to destroy all of it," he added, breaking into tears.

But what hurt him most was seeing his family suffer.