Lying in Parliament proved costly, trial begins against Indian-origin opposition leader in Singapore

Singapore Latest News: A court hearing began on Monday against Indian-origin opposition leader Pritam Singh in Singapore for lying during questioning about his former colleague in Parliament. Singh’s former Workers’ Party (WP) colleague Raisa Khan had lied twice in Parliament in 2021 about accompanying a rape victim to the police station. A police officer at the police station had allegedly commented about the woman’s dress and drinking.

Singh (48) is accused of lying before the Privileges Committee on September 10 and December 15, 2021. This committee had met on these dates to investigate Khan’s conduct. Singh is accused of lying that at the end of the meeting with Khan and WP members Sylvia Lim and Muhammad Faisal Abdul Manap on August 8, 2021, he wanted Khan to clearly state at some point in Parliament that he had done justice to the rape victim. Whatever was said about going to the police station together was a lie.

Gave false testimony before the Privileges Committee

Another alleged lie is that when Singh spoke to Khan on October 3, 2021, he wanted to tell him that if the issue came up in Parliament the next day, he would have to clarify that it was his intention to accompany the rape victim. The story was false. A team of prosecutors led by Ang Cheng Hock, a former High Court judge and current Deputy Attorney General, alleged that Singh used privilege in an attempt to downplay his responsibility for Khan’s lies, Channel News Asia reported. Gave false testimony before the committee.

When did you first come to know about it?

Singh came to know for the first time during a phone conversation with Khan on August 7, 2021, that his statement about accompanying the rape victim was false. A day later, Singh met Khan, Lim and Faisal Manap at his home. During this, after discussing various issues, he also noticed Khan’s lies. The prosecution said that in this meeting itself, Khan had come to know that his party leaders did not want him to give clarification on this lie, in such a situation he should leave this matter like this.

Deputy Attorney General alleged

The Deputy Attorney General alleged that Singh, during another meeting on October 3, 2021, had instructed Khan to continue the lie if the matter was raised in Parliament the next day. The hearing will continue for the whole week till next Thursday before Deputy Principal District Judge Luke Tan. Singh, a trained lawyer and experienced politician, was charged on March 19, 2024.

Also read- Iran Attack on Israel: After Russia, this country came with Israel, gave its most dangerous weapon