WP chief says he did not tell Raeesah Khan to take lie to the grave

He also explains what he meant when he said later that he would not judge her

- Ng Wei Kai

Workers' Party (WP) chief Pritam Singh said he did not tell former Sengkang GRC MP Raeesah Khan to "take the lie to the grave" on Aug 8, 2021, as he gave evidence in a trial over his alleged lies to a parliamentary committee.

Giving his version of events in court on Nov 5, 2024, Singh said when he told Ms Khan at a later meeting on Oct 3, 2021, that he would not judge her, he meant he would not do so if she took ownership and responsibility for her lie to Parliament.

What was said in these two meetings is central to the trial where Singh is fighting two charges over lying to the Committee of Privileges that he had, on Aug 8 and Oct 3, 2021, wanted Ms Khan to clarify her lie to Parliament.

Ms Khan had, on Aug 3, 2021, told Parliament that she had accompanied a sexual assault victim to a police station, where the victim was purportedly treated insensitively. She repeated the claim before the House on Oct 4 the same year, before admitting to her lie on Nov 1 that year.

On Nov 5, 2024, Singh's lawyer Andre Jumabhoy asked the Leader of the Opposition if he had at the first meeting on Aug 8 told Ms Khan to take her lie to the grave.

"No, I did not," Singh replied.

The prosecution has argued that Singh had, at the Aug 8, 2021, meeting, been prepared for Ms Khan and the WP leaders to "take (the matter) to the grave".

Singh told the court that after the Aug 8 meeting, he had made no "specific decision" on what had to be done. "In my mind, I knew that the matter would have to be clarified," he added.

Asked if this was conveyed to Ms Khan at that meeting, Singh said it was not. Because of Ms Khan's emotional state after telling party leaders about how she had been sexually assaulted in the past, he determined it would be better for her to settle herself, and the party would deal with the matter when she was ready, Singh said.