Verdict in WP chief Pritam Singh's trial expected tomorrow

A district court is set to rule on Feb 17 whether Workers' Party (WP) chief Pritam Singh lied to a parliamentary committee.

- Wong Pei Ting

Singh, who is Leader of the Opposition, is contesting two charges for allegedly lying to the Committee of Privileges (COP). The COP was convened in November 2021 to look into the lying controversy involving former WP MP Raeesah Khan.

If found guilty, Singh faces for each charge a maximum fine of $7,000, a jail term of up to three years, or both.

But with sentencing likely taking place at a later date should Singh be convicted, a question mark would remain over his political future.

The Constitution states that a person could be disqualified as an MP if he is jailed for at least one year, or fined at least $10,000. It does not say if fines could be compounded.

The Attorney-General's Chambers has indicated it would be seeking only a fine for both charges if he is convicted.

Legal experts earlier told The Sunday Times it is very unlikely that Singh would be disqualified and be barred from standing in the upcoming general election.

The prosecution's case is that Singh had, at meetings with Ms Khan on Aug 8 and Oct 3 in 2021, told her to maintain a lie she had originally told in Parliament on Aug 3 that year about accompanying a sexual assault victim to a police station, where the victim was treated insensitively.