Opposition leader Pritam Singh set to go on trial in October

SINGAPORE: Leader of the Opposition and Workers’ Party chief Pritam Singh is set to go on trial in October.

Singh, 47, faces two charges of lying in Parliament to a Committee of Privileges over Raeesah Khan's case.

At a pre-trial conference held in chambers away from the public and media on Friday morning (May 31), a total of 16 days of trial were fixed for him before Deputy Principal District Judge Luke Tan.

According to court records, the first segment of the trial is set to begin from Oct 14 to Oct 18.

Another three periods were set for the trial if necessary, spanning Oct 21 to Oct 24, Nov 5 to Nov 8 and Nov 11 to Nov 13.

Singh hired lawyers Mr Andre Darius Jumabhoy and Mr Aristotle Emmanuel Eng Zhen Yang from a boutique law firm in April.

He had made his intention to claim trial clear from the first day he was charged in court - pleading not guilty on Mar 19.

The two charges Singh faces allege that he wilfully made a false answer on Dec 10, 2021 and Dec 15, 2021 in the public hearing room at Parliament House.

This was during an inquiry before the Committee of Privileges, centering on the case of Ms Khan, who had lied over a sexual assault case and accused the police of mishandling the case.

Singh allegedly testified falsely that he had wanted Ms Khan to clarify what she said in Parliament about accompanying a rape victim to a police station, and that he spoke to Ms Khan as he wanted to convey to her that she had to clarify what she said over the same issue. 

If convicted of lying under the Parliament (Privileges, Immunities and Powers) Act, he could be jailed for up to three years, fined up to S$7,000, or both per charge.

CNA has contacted Singh's lawyers for more information.