Convicted on Two Counts of Giving False Evidence, Singh Plans to Appeal

SINGAPORE – Leader of the Workers’ Party (WP), Pritam Singh, has been fined a total of $14,000 after being found guilty on two counts of giving false testimony under oath to a parliamentary committee. Singh received the maximum fine of $7,000 for each charge and announced his intention to appeal the verdict.

Despite the conviction, Singh confirmed his candidacy in the upcoming general election. Under Singapore’s Constitution, a Member of Parliament (MP) is disqualified from holding office if sentenced to at least one year in prison or fined $10,000 or more for a single offence. The Elections Department clarified that Singh’s penalties, being below this threshold, do not disqualify him as an MP.

The case revolves around false statements Singh made to the Committee of Privileges (COP) regarding how he managed a situation involving former WP MP Raeesah Khan. On Aug 3, 2021, Ms Khan misled Parliament by claiming she had accompanied a sexual assault victim to a police station. She repeated the false account on Oct 4, 2021. The court found that Singh did not want Ms Khan to correct her statement when he met her on Aug 8 and Oct 3, 2021.

Delivering his judgment on Feb 17, Deputy Principal District Judge Luke Tan concluded that Singh had “wilfully” lied to the COP. The judge emphasised the importance of truthfulness under oath and noted that Singh’s status as both party leader and a lawyer heightened his responsibility to provide accurate testimony.

While the court accepted that Singh did not initiate Ms Khan’s lie, it found that he subtly encouraged her to maintain the falsehood during the Oct 4 parliamentary session. The judge highlighted Singh’s intent to protect his political standing as a key motive. He also pointed out inconsistencies in Singh’s testimony, which were contradicted by evidence from Ms Khan and other former WP members.

Judge Tan cited text messages from Ms Khan to close associates, which supported her account that Singh, along with WP chair Sylvia Lim and vice-chair Faisal Manap, advised her to “take the lie to the grave” following their Aug 8 meeting. The judge ruled that Singh’s statements to the COP were “wilful lies” meant to distance himself from the controversy.

The case also revealed that Singh only directed Ms Khan to clarify her falsehood after former WP chief Low Thia Khiang advised him on Oct 11, 2021, and the police sought to interview Ms Khan on Oct 7. This contradicted Singh’s claim that he had already decided to correct the record before consulting Mr Low.

Singh is the first person in post-independence Singapore to be convicted under Section 31(q) of the Parliament (Privileges, Immunities and Powers) Act, which penalises lying to parliamentary committees. He is also the first sitting opposition MP to face a criminal conviction in nearly four decades.

The prosecution argued for the maximum fine, stating that Singh’s lies were meant to safeguard his political career at the expense of Ms Khan and his party’s reputation. In contrast, Singh’s defence sought a lesser fine of $4,000 per charge, emphasising that Singh did not instruct Ms Khan to lie initially.

After the sentencing, Singh expressed his intention to appeal and instructed his legal team to examine the written judgment. He appeared composed throughout the proceedings, attended by WP MPs and his father, Amarjit Singh, a former district judge assisting his legal team.

This conviction marks a significant moment in Singapore’s political landscape, highlighting the serious repercussions of dishonesty in parliamentary procedures. Singh’s appeal and continued political involvement are expected to shape upcoming electoral dynamics.