Opposition leader faces charges in connection with lying testimony regarding former MP’s false statements
Pritam Singh, leader of the Opposition and Workers’ Party (WP) chief, has been charged with two counts of lying to a parliamentary committee regarding the controversial case of former WP MP Raeesah Khan’s false testimony in Parliament. The charges stem from Singh’s testimony before the Committee of Privileges in December 2021, which had been convened to investigate Khan’s lie about accompanying a sexual assault victim to the police station.
Singh, who appeared at the State Courts on March 19, 2024, pleaded not guilty to the charges under the Parliament (Privileges, Immunities and Powers) Act. He requested a four-week adjournment to seek legal representation, with a pre-trial conference scheduled for April 17.
The case dates back to 2021 when Khan falsely claimed to have accompanied a sexual assault victim to the police. After confessing to the lie in November 2021, Khan resigned from the WP and her parliamentary seat. Singh is accused of misleading the committee regarding meetings with Khan and allegedly advising her to avoid revealing the truth about her lie.
The charges carry a maximum fine of S$7,000 and a jail term of up to three years or both. Political observers have noted the potential consequences for Singh, with some speculating whether he might face a harsher penalty than Khan, who was fined S$35,000 for her false statements.
