Pritam Singh gives his version of events, says he did not tell ...

SINGAPORE – Workers’ Party (WP) chief Pritam Singh said he did not tell former Sengkang GRC MP Raeesah Khan to “take the lie to the grave” on Aug 8, 2021, as he gave evidence in a trial over his alleged lies to a parliamentary committee.

Giving his version of events in court on Nov 5, 2024, Singh said when he told Ms Khan at a later meeting on Oct 3, 2021, that he would not judge her, he meant he would not do so if she took ownership and responsibility for her lie to Parliament.

What was said in these two meetings is central to the trial where Singh is fighting two charges over lying to the Committee of Privileges that he had, on Aug 8 and Oct 3, 2021, wanted Ms Khan to clarify her lie to Parliament.

Ms Khan had, on Aug 3, 2021, told Parliament that she had accompanied a sexual assault victim to a police station, where the victim was purportedly treated insensitively. She repeated the claim before the House on Oct 4 the same year, before admitting to her lie on Nov 1 that year.

On Nov 5, 2024, Singh’s lawyer Andre Jumabhoy asked the Leader of the Opposition if he had at the first meeting on Aug 8 told Ms Khan to take her lie to the grave.

“No, I did not,” Singh replied.

The prosecution has argued that Singh had, at the Aug 8, 2021, meeting, been prepared for Ms Khan and the WP leaders to “take (the matter) to the grave”.

“It was clear to Ms Khan then that her party leaders did not want her to clarify the untruth and that she could leave the matter be,” Deputy Attorney-General Ang Cheng Hock said on Oct 14, 2024, during the trial.

Singh told the court that after the Aug 8 meeting, he had made no “specific decision” on what had to be done. “In my mind, I knew that the matter would have to be clarified,” he added.

Asked if this was conveyed to Ms Khan at that meeting, Singh said it was not. Because of Ms Khan’s emotional state after telling party leaders about how she had been sexually assaulted in the past, he determined it would be better for her to settle herself, and the party would deal with the matter when she was ready, Singh said.

Singh said he was quite sure that the Government would follow up on Ms Khan’s anecdote on Aug 3, 2021, about police conduct, as then Minister of State for Home Affairs Desmond Tan had made it clear by saying the matter would not be swept aside.

“I know how the PAP (People’s Action Party) operates. And whenever there’s a chance to fix an opposition MP, or get tough at the opposition, they will jump at the chance,” Singh said.

Referring to text messages given to the court, Singh said he had repeatedly asked Ms Khan for more information about her anecdote between Aug 3 and 7.

He said she initially told him she was still trying to contact the victim, before admitting to him over a call on Aug 7 that the anecdote was false.

Asked for his response to her admission, Singh said: “I was very unhappy with her. I was actually very upset, and I cut the call and I told her we’ll talk about this.”