WP chief Pritam Singh charged with lying to Parliament, pleads not guilty

Alleged untruths are in relation to lying controversy involving ex-MP Raeesah Khan

- Tham Yuen-C and Nadine Chua

Leader of the Opposition and Workers' Party (WP) chief Pritam Singh was charged on March 19 with two counts of lying to a parliamentary committee, two years after the police opened investigations into his conduct before the Committee of Privileges.

The charges relate to his testimony before the committee, which had been convened in November 2021 to look into a lying controversy involving his party's former MP Raeesah Khan.

The committee called Singh as a witness, and said later he had not been truthful during the hearings while under oath. It recommended referring him and WP vice-chairman Faisal Manap to the public prosecutor for further investigations with a view to consider criminal proceedings, which Parliament later endorsed.

Standing in the dock on March 19, Singh, who was unrepresented, pleaded not guilty to the two charges under Section 31(q) of the Parliament (Privileges, Immunities and Powers) Act, and claimed trial.

The 47-year-old opposition leader requested a four-week adjournment to engage a lawyer. A pretrial conference has been scheduled for April 17.

Lying in response to questions posed by a parliamentary committee is considered a criminal offence under the Act, and carries a maximum fine of $7,000 and a jail term of up to three years, or both.

In response to media queries, an Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) spokesman said it is for the court to decide what the appropriate punishment should be if Singh is found guilty.

The spokesman added that the AGC will be asking the court to impose a fine for each of the charges if Singh is convicted. This is based on the "evidence presently available and considering the totality of the circumstances".