WP voices solidarity with Pritam Singh, calls party 'no stranger to challenges'

SINGAPORE: On Monday (17 February), Workers’ Party (WP) chief and Aljunied GRC Member of Parliament (MP) Pritam Singh was convicted in court for providing false testimony to the Committee of Privileges (COP) during its inquiry in December 2021. He was fined S$14,000. In response, his party has expressed unwavering solidarity with Singh, rallying around their leader as party officials voiced their full support. Sylvia Lim, Chair of the Workers’ Party, issued a statement acknowledging the challenges the party faces, but reaffirmed their commitment to overcoming them. Lim noted that Singh, also the Leader of the Opposition, had indicated his intention to appeal the court’s decision to the High Court. "The law must take its course and out of prudence, it would be unwise for the Party to comment on the merits of the matter." She further emphasised that the WP is no stranger to challenges and will rise to the occasion, as it has done many times in the past. "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, " Lim concluded. WP MPs, including Sengkang MP Associate Professor Jamus Lim, Aljunied GRC MP Gerald Giam, and Hougang SMC MP Dennis Tan, attended the court proceedings this morning in a show of solidarity.

Earlier, speaking outside the court after the verdict, Singh reaffirmed his intent to contest in the upcoming General Election.

The Elections Department (ELD) confirmed in a statement that Singh remains eligible to contest the upcoming General Election, as his conviction and penalty do not meet the disqualification criteria under Singapore’s Constitution.

Singh was found guilty of two charges of lying to Parliament during a Committee of Privileges (COP) inquiry into former WP MP Raeesah Khan’s conduct.

The State Court fined him S$14,000 in total—S$7,000 for each charge—the maximum penalty under the law.

According to the ELD, disqualification as a Member of Parliament (MP) applies only if an individual is sentenced to at least one year of imprisonment or fined at least S$10,000 for a single offence.

Court ruling and sentencing

During sentencing, the prosecution sought the maximum fine of S$7,000 per charge, arguing that Singh’s false testimony had wasted public resources and undermined parliamentary integrity.

The court agreed, citing aggravating factors such as Singh’s failure to correct his statements and his role as a senior political leader.

Judge Luke Tan referenced legal precedents, including the case of Joh Yong Chia, and considered Section 182 of the Penal Code, which deals with providing false information to public officials.

The court ruled that Singh had knowingly given false testimony and had not taken steps to rectify the falsehoods.

As a result, the maximum fine was imposed, with a default sentence of one month’s imprisonment if the fine is not paid.

Singh’s response and appeal plans

Following the sentencing, Singh announced his intention to appeal both the conviction and the sentence.

He also published his legal defence submissions on the Leader of the Opposition’s website, stating that the public should have access to his arguments.

In his statement on Facebook, Singh criticised the COP’s evidence-gathering process, particularly testimonies from Loh Pei Ying and Yudhishtra Nathan, both former WP members and associates of Raeesah Khan.

He argued that the trial had revealed new facts not previously considered by the COP, including:

• His rejection of Loh and Yudhishtra’s alleged efforts to cover up Khan’s falsehood.
• His consistent urging of Khan to substantiate her anecdote before Parliament.
• His lack of coordination with Loh and Yudhishtra prior to the COP hearings.
• His non-involvement in message deletions related to the investigation.

Singh also questioned the credibility of the prosecution’s key witnesses, pointing out that Khan had previously lied in Parliament and that Loh and Yudhishtra had allegedly concealed evidence.

Despite the conviction, Singh reiterated that he had acted transparently throughout the case. His legal team will review the court’s written judgment before proceeding with the appeal.

Background on the case

The case stems from a false statement made by former WP MP Raeesah Khan in Parliament on 3 August 2021.

She claimed to have accompanied a sexual assault survivor to the police station and alleged that officers had mishandled the case. She later admitted on 1 November 2021 that her account was untrue.

A COP inquiry into the matter found that Singh had provided false testimony regarding his communications with Khan. This led to criminal charges being filed against him, culminating in his conviction.

As Singh prepares to appeal, the case remains a significant development in Singapore’s political landscape, with the next General Election being anticipated to be held as early as May.