SINGAPORE, Oct 14 — The trial of Singapore’s Opposition Leader Pritam Singh, who faced two charges of lying to a Parliamentary committee, began today at the State Courts — seven months after he was charged with the offence allegedly committed in 2021.
The Workers' Party (WP) secretary-general was charged on March 19 under Section 31(q) of the Parliament (Privileges, Immunities and Powers) Act for wilfully making a false answer during an examination before the Parliament’s Committee of Privileges (COP).
Singh’s charges relate to his testimony before the COP, which had been convened in November 2021 to look into a lying controversy involving WP’s former MP Raeesah Khan.
Raeesah, then Sengkang (Group Representation Constituencies) MP, told Parliament on August 3, 2021, that she had accompanied a rape victim to make a police report, and claimed that the police officer who interviewed the victim had allegedly made comments about the victim’s dressing and the fact that the victim had been drinking alcohol.
She later admitted in Parliament that this anecdote was untrue.
The prosecution, led by Deputy Attorney-General Ang Cheng Hock, began the trial on Monday by stating that it is proceeding with the two charges, according to local media.
Singh reiterated his plea of not guilty to the court presided over by District Judge Luke Tan.
In its opening statement, the prosecution said that the accused lied to the COP about what he wanted Raeesah to do concerning the “untruth” when he discussed the matter with her on August 8 and October 3, 2021.
“In attempting to downplay his own responsibility in the matter, the accused gave false testimony to the COP about what he wanted Ms (Raeesah) Khan to do in relation to the untruth,” the prosecution said.
The prosecution stated they would show that Singh had guided Raeesah to maintain the untruth if the matter was raised in Parliament on October 4, 2021.
The Straits Times reported that Raeesah was the first to testify in court. The prosecution said it would also, among others, call former WP chief Low Thia Khiang as a witness.
Singh, Aljunied GRC MP, faced a maximum fine of SG$7,000 (RM22,996) or a jail term of up to three years or both if found guilty.
Andre Jumabhoy and Aristotle Emmanuel Eng Zheng Yang from Andre Jumabhoy LLC are representing Singh.
The case was fixed for trial over 16 days in October and November.
— Bernama
