A recap of today’s hearing

Workers’ Party chief Pritam Singh was fined a total of $14,000 today – $7,000 for each charge of lying to the Committee of Privileges. He has said that he will appeal.

Here are the key points from the hearing:

• The defence’s bid to impeach Ms Raeesah Khan’s credibility as a witness was unsuccessful. Deputy Principal District Judge Luke Tan said the discrepancy between her testimonies and the police statement does not undermine her account of her Oct 3, 2021, meeting with Singh.
• The judge agreed with both prosecution and defence that jail is not warranted in Singh’s case, saying that no actual harm was caused to Ms Khan.
• Singh was handed a fine of $14,000, or the maximum of $7,000 for each of the two charges he faced.
• Judge Tan laid out several factors he considered in his decision: Singh was aware that his actions could cause Ms Khan harm, Singh had given false information to protect his political capital, Singh had lied under affirmation and had not recanted his lie, and Singh had also nudged Ms Khan to stick to her lie.
• Speaking to the media after the sentencing, Singh said he intends to contest the upcoming general election. This is consistent with the advice he has received that he will not be disqualified, he added.

READ MORE: ELD confirms sentence imposed on Pritam Singh does not reach threshold to disqualify him as an MP

Disqualification from being MP based on sentence imposed for a single offence: ELD

The criterion to be disqualified as an MP is based on a sentence imposed for a single offence. Sentences for separate offences cannot be added together, said the Elections Department.

An MP convicted of multiple offences – with a sentence imposed for each not exceeding a year of imprisonment or a fine of $10,000 – will not be disqualified.

Time for me to step up, not step down: Pritam

“Well, I think the need of the hour is for me to step up, not step down,” Pritam Singh says, in response to further questions from the media outside the courthouse.

Noting that the general election is imminent, he says: “It's not going to be an easy election – as I have repeatedly shared in the course of my public speeches and to fellow Workers’ Party members – so we’ll have to fight hard, and that’s what we will do.”

ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI

WP will rise to the occasion: Sylvia Lim

Workers’ Party chairwoman Sylvia Lim says the party is no stranger to challenges and will rise to the occasion, as it has done many times in the past.

In a statement, she adds: “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.”

Party’s morale not affected, says Pritam 

In response to a question on whether the conviction has affected the Workers’ Party’s morale, Pritam Singh says: “The party’s morale, as far as my reading is concerned, is not affected.”

He adds: “The path of choosing opposition politics is not for the faint-hearted, and I am grateful and privileged to be in the company of fellow party members who worked hard to provide an alternative to Singaporeans, in so far as having a check and balance.”

I will be running for election: Pritam

In reply to ST's question, Workers’ Party chief Pritam Singh confirms his intention to contest in the upcoming general election. This is consistent with advice he has received that he will not be disqualified, says Singh. 

An Elections Department statement on his standing is expected later today, he adds.

He is taking questions from the press outside the courthouse. 

READ MORE: Pritam Singh says he will stand in the general election, is appealing his sentence
 

ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG

Pritam nudged Raeesah Khan to continue lie, says judge

“While I accept that the accused did not initiate Ms Khan telling the lie in the first instance in Parliament, I have made the finding that he did nudge her to continue the lie on Oct 4. Moreover, I did consider his status not only as leader of the party and of Ms Khan, he’s also a lawyer who should know or would know the implications of lying under affirmation.” – Deputy Principal District Judge Luke Tan

Pritam ‘never recanted the lie’: Judge

Pritam Singh had also lied under affirmation before the Committee of Privileges, which could be seen from the committee’s minutes of evidence, says the judge.

The false answers were never recanted, and Singh had claimed trial, the judge says.

“The fact remains that he never recanted the lie.”

Motive was to protect political capital: Judge

The judge says the second consideration was the offender’s motive in giving false information.

It can be inferred, he adds, that Pritam Singh’s motive was to cover his own tracks and to protect his political capital.

Pritam plans to file appeal

Shortly after sentencing, Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh says he has instructed his lawyers to appeal his case in a statement online.