Workers’ Party chief Pritam Singh has been found guilty of lying to the Committee of Privileges (COP) in a landmark verdict delivered at the State Courts on 17 Feb 2025.
Deputy Principal District Judge Luke Tan convicted Singh, 48, of two charges under the Parliament (Privileges, Immunities and Powers) Act. The court imposed the maximum fine of S$7,000 for each charge, totaling S$14,000.
What The Charges Are
Singh was found guilty of providing false testimony during COP hearings on 10 Dec and 15 Dec 2021.
The first charge related to his claim about wanting Raeesah Khan to clarify her lie after their 8 Aug 2021 meeting. The second charge concerned his statement about instructing Khan to correct her testimony if the issue arose on 4 Oct 2021.
Judge Tan accepted Khan’s version of events, particularly her testimony that Singh had advised her to “take it to the grave.” The court found Khan to be a reliable witness, noting she showed remorse and was forthcoming with her evidence.
The Elections Department confirmed that Singh can still contest in the upcoming General Election, as the sentences for separate offenses cannot be combined to reach the S$10,000 disqualification threshold.
The next General Election must be called by 23 Nov 2025..
Pritam Singh’s Response
Singh, represented by defense lawyers Andre Jumabhoy and Aristotle Eng, has filed an appeal against both the conviction and sentence within the 14-day window.
He has also posted a lengthy response on social media:
This case marks Singapore’s first prosecution under the Parliament (Privileges, Immunities and Powers) Act since independence.
The Workers’ Party currently holds eight seats in parliament.
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