Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh charged with lying to Committee of Privileges

SINGAPORE — Pritam Singh, the Leader of the Opposition and head of the Workers' Party (WP), was charged on Tuesday (19 March) with two offences over allegedly lying to a parliamentary committee. This development comes two years after the police initiated investigations into his conduct during proceedings before the Committee of Privileges.

According to The Straits Times, the charges stem from Singh's testimony before the committee, which was convened in November 2021 to address a controversy involving Raeesah Khan, a former MP from his party. That committee had recommended Raeesah be fined $35,000 for lying to Parliament and abusing her parliamentary privilege.

The committee, whose questioning was led by Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong, summoned Singh as a witness and later concluded that he had not been truthful while under oath.

As a result, it recommended further investigation by the public prosecutor, a suggestion Parliament later endorsed.

Appearing in court on Tuesday, the 47-year-old opposition leader, who was unrepresented, pleaded not guilty to the two charges under Section 31(q) of the Parliament (Privileges, Immunities and Powers) Act and claimed trial.

He requested a four-week adjournment to secure legal representation, with a pre-trial conference set for 17 April.

What are the two charges against Pritam Singh?

In a joint statement issued, the Attorney-General’s Chambers and the police on Tuesday confirmed that Singh was charged in the State Courts on Tuesday.

The details of his charges are:

1. On 10 December 2021, Mr Pritam Singh falsely testified that as at the conclusion of his meeting with Ms Raeesah Begum Bte Farid Khan (“Ms Raeesah Khan”), Ms Lim Swee Lian Sylvia and Mr Faisal Manap on 8 August 2021, he wanted Ms Raeesah Khan to, at some point, clarify in Parliament that what she told Parliament on 3 August 2021 about having accompanied a rape victim to a police station was untrue.

2. On 10 and 15 December 2021, Mr Pritam Singh falsely testified that when he spoke to Ms Raeesah Khan on 3 October 2021, he wanted her to admit to having lied to Parliament on 3 August 2021 about having accompanied a rape victim to a police station, if this issue were to come up in Parliament on 4 October 2021.

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Under the Act, providing false information to a parliamentary committee constitutes a criminal offence. If convicted, Singh could face a maximum fine of $7,000 and a prison sentence of up to three years, or both.

Faisal Manap receives advisory, will not be charged

The Attorney-General’s Chambers and the police on Tuesday also clarified that Faisal Manap, who serves as the Member of Parliament for Aljunied GRC and is also the vice-chairman of the WP, will not be charged.

Instead, he has been issued an advisory to familiarise himself with the conduct expected of Members of Parliament under the Parliament (Privileges, Immunities and Powers) Act and to refrain from any act that may be in breach of it. He has acknowledged the advisory.

The Straits Times reported that Sylvia Lim, the chairman of the Workers' Party and another Member of Parliament for Aljunied GRC, was called as a witness by the committee. However, she was not referred for further investigations.

Singh says he will continue with all parliamentary duties

Singh confirmed in a Facebook post on Tuesday that he pleaded not guilty to both charges at the State Courts and has claimed trial.

Addressing his constituents and supporters, Singh said that he will resume all his duties.

"Until the legal process comes to a complete close, I will continue with all my Parliamentary duties and Town Council responsibilities – including, but not limited to, Meet-the-People sessions, estate walks, house visits, Hammer outreaches, amongst others," he added.

PAP will not seek Singh's suspension from parliament

According to a media statement to local media CNA, the People's Action Party (PAP) organising secretary Grace Fu said that PAP MPs will be seeking Singh's suspension from parliament. She also added that the party will not comment on the case's merits as it is now before the courts.

"This is in line with parliament's resolution to defer any sanctions in respect of Mr Singh's, Ms Sylvia Lim's and Mr Faisal's respective roles in the matter of former MP Raeesah Khan's untruth, until after the conclusion of the investigations and criminal proceedings (if any) against Mr Singh," CNA reported Fu as saying in the media statement.

Fu said that the PAP's decision not to seek Singh's suspension aligned with its position on a motion presented by Non-Constituency Member of Parliament Hazel Poa from the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) in September 2023.

Poa's motion sought the suspension of then-Transport Minister S Iswaran as an MP following his arrest and investigation by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB).

Parliament rejected this motion, instead voting to consider the situation once the corruption investigations against Iswaran concluded.

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