Pritam Singh, the Leader of the Opposition and secretary-general of the Workers’ Party (WP), was convicted and sentenced on February 17 for lying to a parliamentary committee regarding a fellow party member’s testimony.
The court handed down the maximum fine of S$7,000 for each of the two charges, raising questions about his eligibility to contest in the upcoming General Election.
Singh, 48, faced accusations of providing false testimony to a Committee of Privileges (COP) on December 10 and December 15, 2021, during its inquiry into the conduct of former WP Member of Parliament (MP) Raeesah Khan. The judge accepted Ms. Khan’s account of a meeting that took place on August 8, 2021, where Singh, along with senior party leaders Sylvia Lim and Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap, was alleged to have pressured Khan to clarify her earlier statements made in parliament.
The specific charges against Singh included:
- Lying about wanting Ms. Khan to clarify that her account of accompanying a rape victim to a police station was untrue following a meeting on August 8, 2021.
- Lying about his conversation with Ms. Khan on October 3, 2021, where he supposedly indicated that she needed to clarify her story as a lie if the issue arose in parliament the following day.
In delivering the sentence, Judge Tan emphasized the importance of providing truthful information while under oath, stating, “The court must send a message on the importance of giving truthful information when under oath and this can be done by imposing the maximum fine, especially in a case such as this.”
Following the verdict, Singh expressed disappointment, stating he would appeal both the conviction and the sentence but refrained from providing further details. “I don’t want to go too far into that, let the process take its course and we’ll see what the results (are),” he said.
When questioned about the potential impact of the conviction on public perception of the party ahead of the elections, Singh stated, “I leave it to the public again to determine how they want to exercise their vote in what we in the Workers’ Party believe is, the need of the hour in Singapore, which is the evolution towards a more balanced political system.”
Despite the conviction, Singh asserted that the case has not affected the party’s morale.
“The path of choosing opposition politics is not for the fainthearted, and I am grateful and privileged to be in the company of fellow party members who have worked hard to provide an alternative to Singaporeans,” he remarked. He acknowledged the challenges faced by the party but emphasized their resilience and commitment to continue fighting in the upcoming elections.
WP chair Sylvia Lim echoed Singh’s sentiments in a statement on the party’s Facebook page, asserting that the WP is “no stranger to challenges and will rise to the occasion.”
She expressed gratitude to supporters who have backed the party through difficult times and reiterated the commitment to earn the support of all Singaporeans.
The Elections Department (ELD) clarified that Singh remains eligible to contest in the upcoming General Election, as the sentences for separate offences cannot be combined to disqualify him as an MP.
According to the ELD, disqualification from being an MP is based solely on the sentence for a single offence. As Singh’s fines do not exceed the threshold of S$10,000 or entail imprisonment for a term of not less than one year, he is not disqualified from being an MP.
Following the sentencing and prior to ELD’s statement, Singh expressed his intention to contest in the upcoming General Election, which must be held by November 23.
His legal team has submitted an appeal against both the conviction and the sentence.
A three-time MP, Singh has been part of the Workers’ Party (WP) winning team in the Aljunied Group Representation Constituency (GRC) since 2011. In 2018, Mr. Low Thia Khiang passed the leadership of the party to Singh, who was subsequently named Leader of the Opposition after the 2020 General Election.
When asked about the potential impact of the conviction on how voters may perceive the party in the forthcoming election, he responded: “I leave it to the public again to determine how they want to exercise their vote in what we in the Workers’ Party believe is the need of the hour in Singapore, which is the evolution towards a more balanced political system.”
He emphasized that the case has not dampened the party’s morale, stating, “We continue moving forward.”
He expressed gratitude for the camaraderie among party members, remarking, “The path of choosing opposition politics is not for the fainthearted, and I am grateful and privileged to be in the company of fellow party members who have worked hard to provide an alternative to Singaporeans.”
He further noted, “We have met with numerous obstacles in the course of our political life. We have shown resilience, and in that regard, this case won’t be any different.”
Highlighting the party’s determination, he asserted, “We continue to show resilience.” When questioned about the possibility of needing to step down, Mr. Singh stated that the focus should be on “stepping up, not stepping down.”
He acknowledged the challenges ahead, saying, “Elections are imminent, and it’s not going to be an easy election, as I have repeatedly shared in the course of my public speeches to fellow Workers’ Party members.”
He concluded by affirming their commitment, “So we’ll have to fight hard, and that’s what we will do.”
In a statement shared on the party’s Facebook page, WP chair Sylvia Lim remarked that the party is “no stranger to challenges and will rise to the occasion,” as it has done many times before. She expressed gratitude to supporters, stating, “We are grateful to all who have stood by us through good times and bad, and will continue to work to earn the support of all Singaporeans.”
AGC Cautions Public Against Unfounded Allegations Following Pritam Singh’s Court Ruling
The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) issued a stern warning to the public on Monday, February 17, advising against making unfounded allegations regarding the judiciary after Workers’ Party chief Pritam Singh received a fine for providing false testimony to a parliamentary committee.
In a formal statement, the AGC acknowledged the public’s right to comment on court decisions but emphasized the importance of refraining from making baseless claims against the judiciary or the prosecution. The statement noted that there had been a surge of online comments in the aftermath of the court’s ruling in Singh’s case.
The AGC further clarified that intentionally disseminating comments containing unfounded allegations, or insinuating bias within the judiciary, may amount to contempt of court as outlined in the Administration of Justice (Protection) Act 2016.
The statement highlighted that there have been several instances in the past where notable political figures faced prosecution, including a recent case involving a former minister. The AGC underscored its commitment to upholding the rule of law, irrespective of the accused person’s status or position.
“We urge the public to engage in constructive discussions while respecting
the legal process and the principles of justice that underpin our nation” AGC added.
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