Pritam Singh's comments on court of public opinion are outrageous, wrong, unacceptable: Edwin Tong

Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh's statement on the court of public opinion being a bigger court than any court in the world is outrageous, plainly wrong and completely unacceptable.

- Esther Loi

Minister for Law Edwin Tong said this on Nov 8.

His comments come after Mr Singh said in an episode of CNA's The Assembly programme that he believes the court of public opinion can be bigger than any court in the world, when asked about his February conviction for lying under oath to a parliamentary committee.

Mr Singh said the Workers' Party's respectable performance in the May general election showed what the public thought of his role in the Raeesah Khan case.

Speaking on the sidelines of an event, Mr Tong - who is also Second Minister for Home Affairs, said: "Mr Singh was investigated, and then he was charged. He went through a full and open trial and was convicted by the court for lying to a parliamentary select committee.

"The judge gave detailed grounds setting out the basis for the conviction. I think it ran into almost 150 pages. This judgment is, today, valid and binding."

Mr Tong added: "No one should dismiss or denigrate the court's judgment or suggest that public opinion can somehow trump a court's decision."

Noting that this was a very dangerous idea, Mr Tong said the rule of law is a cornerstone of the system in Singapore so that the country does not have "rule of the mob".