Singapore star in diet pill suit

Ms De Cruz (right) suffered liver failure after taking Slim 10

A Singaporean television presenter has told a court of the health problems she says she has experienced since taking Chinese-made diet pills.

Andrea De Cruz suffered liver failure last year after taking Slim 10, and was only saved when her now-husband - fellow actor Pierre Png - donated part of his liver to her in a marathon operation which gripped the nation.

She began a High Court battle this week to seek unspecified damages from five parties, including the Chinese manufacturer and Singaporean importer of the Slim 10 pills, which have been linked to the deaths of six women across Asia.

She told the court on Tuesday that she was having trouble finding work and could not afford the medical treatment she needed for her ongoing liver condition.

Ms De Cruz, 29, broke down in tears as she described how her mouth had recently filled with blood as a result of her liver problems.

"I never imagined in my life I would have to pay so much," the actress was reported as saying by the Associated Press news agency.

"What (she) went through was nothing short of catastrophic," her lawyers told the court, according to AP.

Health Biz, the Singaporean importer, denies negligence, saying the pills were approved by the Singapore Government.

Liver failure

Ms De Cruz took six Slim 10 pills a day in December 2001 and January 2002, the court heard.

She began to have problems shortly afterwards, eventually suffering liver failure.

Ms De Cruz is said to be seeking damages for the injuries she claims were caused by the drug, and to cover her transplant surgery expenses. The operation is said to have cost S$300,000 (US$170,000).

The Slim 10 pills were removed from shops in Singapore in April 2002, after they were found to contain the banned substance fenfluramine.

Fenfluramine has been linked to health problems affecting the heart, thyroid and blood.

About 20,000 bottles of Slim 10 had been sold in Singapore before they were removed from circulation.

The pills were also sold in many other parts of Asia, under different brand names.

The case is expected to last three weeks.