The Charges Against Pritam Singh: A Timeline of Events

As the general election in Singapore looms, Workers’ Party (WP) Chief and Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh is embroiled in a legal controversy that has been unfolding since 2021.

This turmoil is juxtaposed against the backdrop of corruption charges against the disgraced People’s Action Party (PAP) minister S Iswaran.

The Genesis of the Charges

The controversy ignited when former WP MP Raeesah Khan falsely claimed in Parliament in 2021 that she had accompanied a sexual assault victim to a police station, alleging that the victim had received insensitive treatment by the police.

After two further misleading statements in Parliament, in August and October 2021, Raeesah finally admitted in November 2021 that her claim was untrue, prompting an investigation that would ensnare Singh and Faisal.

A comprehensive probe led by the Committee of Privilege (COP), initially chaired by former Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin—who resigned due to an extramarital affair with another PAP MP—was launched on 27 November 2021 to scrutinize Raeesah’s fabrications.

During the Committee of Privilege (COP) hearings in December 2021, Raeesah revealed she had submitted her speech late for the August 3 debate on empowering women.

The initial draft, uploaded just two days before the session, lacked the false anecdote, which was added a day before the debate.

She testified that Singh had reviewed the draft and questioned the anecdote, indicating a need for substantiation, a comment Raeesah admitted she did not understand at the time.

Raeesah further alleged that WP leaders, including Singh, Member of Parliament Faisal Manap, and WP Chairman Sylvia Lim, who met her privately after confessing to Singh about the false statement, had advised her to conceal her lie to Parliament, suggesting the information be taken “to the grave.”

This claim was contradicted by text messages Raeesah sent to her associates in the political party and testimonies from the WP leaders.

Contrary to Raeesah, who fabricated the claim and was interviewed for two hours, Singh underwent approximately nine hours of cross-examination by Edwin Tong, the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, discussing his interactions with Raeesah and the delay in addressing the falsehood.

Singh recounted pressing Raeesah for details about the alleged victim following her August 3 parliamentary speech. When she confessed the falsehood on 7 August 2021, Singh was left “really angry and upset.”

A meeting at Singh’s house on 8 August 2021, attended by Raeesah, Lim, Faisal, and Singh, revealed Raeesah’s lie was motivated by a traumatic personal experience.

Despite the revelation, there was no immediate strategy to address the lie, with the focus primarily on Raeesah’s well-being. Singh did not instruct Raeesah to clarify her statement in Parliament but emphasized the importance of consulting her parents first.

COP does not question Ms Khan’s credibility: Singh

In February 2022, the Singapore Parliament voted to refer the conduct of Singh and Faisal to the Public Prosecutor, aligning with the committee’s recommendation in its 1,180-page report following the hearings.

Additionally, a fine of S$35,000 was levied against Raeesah, who has since resigned as MP for Sengkang GRC.

In the motion debate, Singh said: “the COP’s case at its highest relies on one pillar – it believes Ms Khan’s evidence that she had been told to take her lie to the grave. This belief rests on an uncorroborated piece of evidence, a WhatsApp text originating from Ms Khan herself.”

He added, “The COP deems the fact of its contemporaneousness to be critical in coming to its conclusion. The COP does not question Ms Khan’s credibility even though she was the one who lied in this House, by her own admission, and even though she also lied when she first communicated with me about this matter.”

In rejecting the second part of the motion, which seeks to refer the two to the Public Prosecutor, Singh said, “While Mr Faisal and myself are prepared to be referred to the Public Prosecutor, we don’t agree with this particular paragraph because the basis of the referral to the Public Prosecutor is from the findings of the Committee of Privileges and we reject the allegation that we told half-truths.”

Two charges filed against Singh

After nearly a year of investigation, on 19 March 2024, Pritam Singh was charged with two counts of offences under section 31(q) of the Parliament (Privileges, Immunities and Powers) Act for allegedly providing false answers during his examination by the Committee of Privilege.

Singh, who became aware of these charges on 18 March, is accused based on his testimonies about discussions with Raeesah Khan and other party members concerning her false statement to Parliament in August and October 2021.

These offences could lead to a fine of up to S$7,000 and/or imprisonment for up to three years. Singh appeared in State Court to plead not guilty to the charges against him.

Advisory Issued to Faisal Manap

While Faisal faced no charges, he received an advisory on 18 March 2024, highlighting the importance of adhering to parliamentary conduct, a reminder of the gravity with which Singapore views the integrity of its parliamentary proceedings.

Singh has vehemently denied the committee’s findings, decrying political bias and expressing his resolve to clear his name, setting the stage for a high-stakes legal battle amidst Singapore’s charged political atmosphere.