Court Cases
Pritam Singh to contest charges on alleged perjury in 2021 Privileges hearing
WP Chief Pritam Singh is facing two charges of lying to a parliamentary committee on Tuesday, pleading not guilty. He sought a four-week adjournment for legal representation. A pre-trial conference is set for 17 April.
SINGAPORE: Pritam Singh, Leader of the Opposition and Chief of the Workers’ Party (WP), was seen at the State Court on Tuesday (19 March) morning at approximately 10:45 am.
He faced charges of providing false information to a parliamentary committee, following a two-year investigation initiated by the police into his conduct during the Committee of Privileges proceedings related to former WP Member of Parliament Raeesah Khan case.
The 47-year-old, representing himself, entered pleas of not guilty to the two charges under Section 31(q) of the Parliament (Privileges, Immunities, and Powers) Act and opted for trial.
He requested a four-week adjournment to secure legal representation. A pre-trial conference has been scheduled for 17 April.
Ms Khan, a former MP of the WP, confessed to providing false information in parliament in 2021 regarding a rape case that she claimed was mishandled by the police.
Consequently, she was referred to the Committee of Privileges for breaching parliamentary privilege.
Several witnesses, including Ms Khan, Mr Singh, and prominent figures from the WP, testified during the hearings held in late 2021 and early 2022.
As outlined in a joint statement by the Singapore Police Force and Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC), Mr Pritam Singh faces specific charges:
- On 10 December 2021, Mr Pritam Singh falsely testified that as at the conclusion of his meeting with Ms Raeesah Khan, WP Chairman Ms Sylvia Lim and Mr Faisal Manap on 8 August 2021, he wanted Ms Raeesah to, at some point, clarify in Parliament that what she told Parliament on 3 August 2021 about having accompanied a rape victim to a police station was untrue.
- On 10 and 15 December 2021, Mr Singh falsely testified that when he spoke to Ms Raeesah on 3 October 2021, he wanted her to admit to having lied to Parliament on 3 August 2021 about having accompanied a rape victim to a police station, if this issue were to come up in Parliament on 4 October 2021.
No charges against WP MP Faisal Manap
The joint statement also noted that the Prosecution, having considered the totality of the evidence, has decided not to prefer any charges against Mr Faisal Manap, WP MP for Aljunied GRC for his refusal to answer relevant questions that had been put to him by the COP.
“Nonetheless, the Police have, in consultation with the Prosecution, issued an advisory to Mr Faisal Manap on 18 March 2024 to advise him to familiarise himself with the conduct expected of Members of Parliament under the Act and to refrain from any act that may be in breach of it. Mr Faisal Manap has acknowledged the advisory.”
Mr Singh disclosed in December 2021 that the party leadership was aware of Ms Khan’s falsehood in a parliamentary speech, a week after she delivered it on 3 August.
However, she reiterated her false statement in October 2021 and did not correct the record in parliament until a month later, on 1 November, when she confessed to lying and apologized in the House.
In its final report on 10 February 2022, the Committee of Privileges recommended that Mr Singh and WP vice-chairman Faisal Manap be referred to the public prosecutor for giving false testimony under oath.
The committee comprised then Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin, Minister for Sustainability and Environment Grace Fu, Minister for National Development Desmond Lee, Minister for Culture, Community, and Youth Edwin Tong, Senior Minister of State for Manpower and Defence Zaqy Mohamad, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Law Rahayu Mahzam, MP for Hougang and WP organising secretary Dennis Tan, and Chua Chu Kang GRC MP Don Wee.
Following their thorough investigation, the committee found Ms Khan guilty of abuse of privilege, proposing a fine of S$35,000.
Notably, the committee determined that Singh played a role in advising Ms Khan not to retract her initial falsehood and found him untruthful in claiming he urged her to correct the record during the hearings.
Singh has consistently denied the allegations and asserted that he afforded Ms Khan time to clarify her statements due to her past trauma as a sexual assault survivor.
Lying before a parliamentary committee is a criminal offence, punishable under the Act with a maximum fine of S$7,000 and imprisonment for up to three years, or both.
When questioned by media reporters at the court, Mr Singh said he would release a statement at a later time.
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You will never be wrong voting for PAP! If PAP catches any members lying or misbehaving, we will oust them from the party! Look at the bayi Singh. Lied I’m Parliament and does not feel guilty or shameful! Only liars vote for a lying party! Be smart! Vote for PAP from now on!
You guys are really daft or what? Understand the case first before talk. Elaborated again, PS is caught lying during COP and charged under Section 31(q) of the Parliament (Privileges, Immunities, and Powers) Act. What’s the point of bringing in other cases of suspected lies as defence, as if others can lie so is PS. Moreover nobody cares if you lie to anyone, white or black lies. Those mentioned suspected lies are not proven or pursue. Let me remind you of the seriousness of this case, in case you dimwit still want to unreasonably defend PS. PS is caught lying… Read more »
What did Pritam do that is different from those civil servants who provided the reasons/EXCUSES to parliament that Singapore did not have the space to accommodate 26 wild chickens and so they were killed?
What about those civil servants who did NOT FOLLOW SOP and supposedly did not inform minister of health (at the time) Gan Kim Yong about the Hep C fatalities? If we were to REALLY dig into this, the can of worms revealed could compost a mount of food waste the size of Mt Everest 🙂
A judge view should be likely taking reference from the same case regarding shit Khan, who was fined $30,000 for the same incident, Prata Singh would be expected to be fine NO LESS THAN THAT AMOUNT since in his position of authority ,he had overall control of events ,once they were revealed to him by Khan and the heavier responsibility and accountability of both, being the WP leader and the expected behavior of a member of Parliment ,when he should have been forth right and honest, even if this would affect his party credibility and reputation, to not commit perjury… Read more »
It is the same footprint as the AHTC case.
“She said, he said”
repeated again & again..
The net conclusion is what the judge will decide.
The judge can always say.. No case, dismissed
And that will be a slap to AG AND PAP.
Will the judge have the balls..??
PS words of wisdom really affects my thinking process. I wonder how many lies people brought to their grave 🤔. Dumpster here, you folks have how many lies you intend to bring to your grave? Let’s do a confession here.
Elections coming so the hunt begins. Eliminate any strong contenders by any means possible.
Erm can PAP be charged for lying as well when they set up the CPF. It was return at 55. Then anyhow anyhow just change the terms without consulting the acct holder. Is that constitute lying as well. Lying about the CPF always changing terms …
讲人不会讲自己
The whole situation is not so simple. For me, even if they manage to strip PS of his MP status and bar him from standing for elections for 5 years, it is not the end of the world. First, he is young and WP is strong and growing stronger. He (PS) has time on his side. My worry is will he be disbarred from practising as a lawyer; depriving him of an income source. Next, if need be, Low Thia Khiang can return to helm the party until PS can return to politics. After all, LTK at 67 is not… Read more »
That’s how the ruling party dispose opposition party if they have run out of ideas how not to lose more seats. Introducing sparing partners in parliament is just an excuse but in actual fact the whites are pretty intolerant towards any opposition party even though they may offer constructive view to shape national policies.
Hahaha. See. All oppies are liars and cannot be trusted. Chee steals stamps from university. Lim Tean stalks women. Pritam lies. You motherfuckers must be stupid to keep voting for oppies!
How come police got power to issue advisory to Manap on parliament matters?
Is the police supervising pariahment or the other way round?
If police is above parliament, isn’t it time they meet at the police station?
Raid Singapore Reserves for expenses to Nail & Destroy the people of Singapore’s Elected Voices and Representatives, when the BLATANT CRIME COMMITTED by being INSIDE a Polling Station in CLEAR Violation of Election Laws was NOT Taken up by AG.
Was AG inaction against PAP criminals deemed to be CORRUPTION?
Hahaha – what is PAP Administration’s definition of Corruption. How about KeppeL Corpn?
When this PAP Administration
can DISTORT the Constitution,
CAN FLIP the Constitution to SUITS it’s MEDDLING with the Lives and Wishes of Sheeps,
CAN NO NEED Go Thru the Council Of Presidential Advisors,
Saw FIT to BYpass Legal Consultations of FOCUS Groups for eg or Law Society (the SG Law Puppet?),
– these above of which ARE ALL APPROPRIATE or DISAPPROPRIATE dependent how PAP see FIT to their MANIPULATION,
What else AIMS and OBJECTIVES the OWNSELF PERMIT OWNSELF Play with Sheeps and Sheepland.
Hopefully PS is able to defend himself of the charges of lying but how about LHL himself who knew about TCJ’s affair with a MP but kept silent. TCJ himself should be charged for hiding his affair with a MP and continuing to remain Speaker of the House. How about our two Maharajas? No conflict of interest? Shouldn’t it be heard in a Court instead of by TCH and clearing it himself as though he is the Law. When you point a finger, three others are pointing back at you. The PAP have a filthy house that has been displayed… Read more »
Don’t be too happy when this white termite colony gives anyone of you a beautiful title, e.g. Leader of Opposition. They can give any great title to you they can also nail you down.
Same to entrepreneurs here. Many of them have got the best entrepreneurs awards but in the end, they live a life worst than an ordinary folk. Some are in prison for fraud and corruption.
It is like a curse.
Anyway, without PS, WP still have its old general LTK.
LHL: 上得山多，终遇虎。哈哈。。。
LTK: 明知山有虎，偏向虎山行。武松就爱打老虎。
Someone told a lie, made a small fine and got away clean clean. We know who.
Was she a planted mole to destroy the Workers’ Party, we won’t know!
Ended up another another person is charged in court for her misdeed. Look very much like China or Russia standard
Russian style democracy.
Kenna done in by Khan and kenna …like the Cina would say…KAN!
But hope ah Singh good at flipping prata, if get another Singh to defend him, both would be very power to FLIP.
Heard that unfortunately ,one Singh already not FREE cos is also defending another prata client who went for free shows and accomodation and that was considered….kelong on duty!😆😆😆😆🤣🤣🤣🤣😆😆😆
Why ?!!!
Just to have your day in Court !!!
To reiterate your innocence and injustices of the very system you’re now re~entering into.
Will the outcome be any different ?!!!
Remember this, the pap have a majority in the house, … and just about every other “house” on the island too !!!
Wah…timing swee….erection coming….if gulity can lose his MP seat ,right?
If kenna fine above a certain amount.😆😆😆🤣🤣
justice my foot!