Pritam Singh, Singapore's opposition leader, has lost his appeal against a guilty verdict for lying to a parliamentary committee. In February, he was fined S$14,000 ($10,800; £8,100) on two charges related to his handling of Raeesah Khan, a former lawmaker from his party who confessed to lying to parliament.
During a brief court hearing, the judge upheld the conviction citing substantial evidence against Singh. Despite expressing disappointment, Singh accepted the judgment and proceeded to pay his fines at the courthouse, stating, Might as well get it done. He reassured supporters that he will continue serving as a parliament member alongside his colleagues.
The Workers' Party, led by Singh, is currently the only opposition party in Singapore’s parliament, holding 12 out of 99 seats. The controversy initially arose in 2021, when Khan falsely claimed to have witnessed misconduct by police towards a sexual assault victim. Upon investigation, she admitted her story was untrue, implicating Singh as well.
Despite Singh's defense that he wished to give Khan time to address a sensitive issue, the prosecution argued that Singh's inaction reflected a lack of intention for her to disclose the truth. The case stands as a significant instance of a criminal conviction against a sitting opposition politician in Singapore, raising concerns about political bias in the judiciary as well.
