Who is Pritam Singh, the Indian-origin Singaporean leader found guilty of lying to Parliament?

Singapore’s Leader of the Opposition and Workers’ Party chief Pritam Singh has been found guilty on two counts of lying to a parliamentary committee, a verdict that could impact his political future as the country gears up for its next general election.

The 48-year-old politician was convicted by Deputy Principal District Judge Luke Tan, who ruled that Singh had given false testimony to the Committee of Privileges (COP) in 2021 during an inquiry into a false statement made in Parliament by former Workers’ Party MP Raeesah Khan.

The court determined that Singh had misrepresented his role in handling Khan’s false statement, contradicting his claims that he had urged her to come clean to Parliament.

The judge stated that there was ample evidence and witness testimony proving otherwise. “Ms. Khan admitted to other WP leaders she had lied; there was absolutely no follow-up from the accused,” Judge Tan said, adding that Singh had suggested the issue was “probably something we should take to the grave.”

The case against Pritam Singh

The charges against Singh arose from his testimonies on December 10 and 15, 2021, before the COP, which was investigating Khan’s parliamentary lie.

In an August 3, 2021 speech, Khan falsely claimed to have accompanied a rape survivor to a police station, where the survivor was allegedly treated insensitively by the authorities. She later admitted that this account was untrue and resigned from Parliament in November 2021.

The prosecution argued that Singh had deliberately misled the COP regarding his interactions with Khan. They alleged that instead of instructing her to correct the falsehood, he had implied that she could persist with her version of events unless pressed further.

Prosecutors pointed to witness testimony from Khan and two former WP cadres, Loh Pei Ying and Yudhishthra Nathan, who said Singh had suggested taking the lie “to the grave.” Singh, however, denied this claim, maintaining that he had urged Khan to clarify her statement in Parliament.

Potential political consequences for Pritam Singh

Singh’s sentencing is expected to determine whether he will be eligible to contest Singapore’s next general election, which must be held by November 2025.

Under Singapore’s Constitution, a politician is disqualified from standing for election or holding a parliamentary seat if they are fined at least S$10,000 (US$7,400) or sentenced to at least one year in prison.

The prosecution has sought a maximum fine of S$7,000 (US$5,231) per charge, which would not disqualify him unless fines are considered cumulatively.

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According to local news outlets, legal experts have noted that the final ruling on sentencing will determine the extent of Singh’s disqualification. If he is sentenced to jail, the judge will decide whether his sentences run concurrently or consecutively, impacting his ability to participate in the upcoming election.

Who is Pritam Singh?

Born on August 2, 1976, Pritam Singh is a Singaporean politician, lawyer, and author who has served as Secretary-General of the Workers’ Party since 2018.

He became Singapore’s first official Leader of the Opposition in 2020 after the WP secured 10 parliamentary seats, making it the largest opposition party in the country’s history.

Singh graduated from the National University of Singapore in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history, later earning a Master of Arts in war studies from King’s College London under the Chevening Scholarship.

He also holds a Juris Doctor degree from Singapore Management University. Before entering politics, he worked in the litigation and dispute resolution practice at Donaldson & Burkinshaw, Singapore’s oldest law firm.

Since his election to Parliament in 2011, Singh has steadily risen within WP’s ranks, eventually taking over the leadership from veteran opposition leader Low Thia Khiang. Under his leadership, WP expanded its parliamentary presence in the 2020 general election, though the party has since faced challenges due to internal controversies.

Singh is of Punjabi ancestry.

What happened at Pritam Singh’s trial

Singh’s trial, which lasted 13 days between October and November 2024, featured testimony from several high-profile witnesses, including former Workers’ Party chief Low Thia Khiang. The prosecution’s case rested on allegations that Singh had sought to downplay his role in handling Khan’s falsehood.

Raeesah Khan testified that Singh had implied she could maintain her false narrative unless pressed in Parliament. She also recounted feeling “very defeated and betrayed” when a WP disciplinary panel, including Singh, later scrutinised her conduct.

Singh’s defence team, led by lawyer Andre Jumabhoy, argued that Khan was an unreliable witness, portraying her as a habitual liar who had misrepresented Singh’s statements.

Former WP members Loh Pei Ying and Yudhishthra Nathan supported Khan’s version of events, recalling discussions within the party about how to manage the fallout from her lie.

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The prosecution also introduced text messages Khan sent to her confidants immediately after her August 8, 2021, meeting with Singh, in which she claimed that WP leaders had advised her to maintain the lie.

During cross-examination, Singh insisted that he had encouraged Khan to take responsibility for her actions but had approached the issue with sensitivity due to her personal trauma as a sexual assault survivor.

He maintained that his comment, “I will not judge you,” meant that he would not judge her if she took ownership of her false statement.

What next for Pritam Singh?

Singh’s conviction comes at a crucial time for Singapore’s political landscape. The ruling People’s Action Party (PAP), led by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, is preparing for its first general election under new leadership.

While PAP has historically dominated Singaporean politics, the WP’s growing influence in the 2020 election had marked a shift in the country’s political dynamics.

The Workers’ Party’s performance in the upcoming election could be impacted by Singh’s legal troubles, with the party already facing setbacks following Khan’s resignation and another WP MP stepping down over an extramarital affair.

If Singh is barred from contesting, it could weaken WP’s ability to mount a strong challenge against the PAP.

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With inputs from agencies