The criminal trial of Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh is set to begin on Monday (14 Oct).
According to a hearing list from the Singapore Courts, it will start at 9.30am at the State Courts.
Source: judiciary.gov.sg
It will be presided over by District Judge Luke Tan. Singh is represented by former state counsel Andre Jumabhoy and Mr Aristotle Emmanuel Eng Zhen Yang of Andre Jumabhoy LLC.
The trial comes after Singh was charged on 19 March with two counts of lying to a parliamentary committee.
This was in relation to a controversy involving former Sengkang MP Raeesah Khan.
In 2021, a Committee of Privileges (COP) was convened to investigate Ms Khan over lies she had admitted to telling in Parliament. Singh, among others, was called to testify at the COP.
The committee found that Singh had lied to the COP under oath and referred the matter to the public prosecutor.
He was then charged with allegedly wilfully making two false answers to the COP on Dec 10 and Dec 15 2021.
He is believed to be the first person charged under Section 31(q) of the Parliament (Privileges, Immunities and Powers) Act.
Source: Singapore Statutes Online
Despite it being the day before his trial, Singh was busy pounding the pavements on Sunday (13 Oct).
According to an Instagram post he made on Sunday night, he spent the day walking the ground in Workers’ Party (WP) stronghold Hougang.
A photo he shared showed him in Hougang Central with fellow Aljunied MPs Sylvia Lim and Gerald Giam, Hougang MP Dennis Tan and former MPs Low Thia Khiang and Png Eng Huat, as well as party members.
Source: Pritam Singh on Instagram
Other photos showed him interacting with residents and giving out the WP’s Hammer magazine.
Source: Pritam Singh on Instagram
In his caption, Singh said he’s “most at home” on the ground.
Source: Pritam Singh on Instagram
Singh’s trial remains before the State Courts after he applied in August to have his case transferred to the High Court.
He had cited the precedent of former transport minister S. Iswaran’s case, which was transferred on the grounds of strong public interest considerations.
However, the application was dismissed on 9 Sept.
Singh faces a jail term of up to three years and/or a fine of up to S$7,000 on each charge, if convicted.
An MP will lose his seat if he is jailed for at least one year or fined at least S$10,000, according to the Constitution.
Also read: Pritam Singh charged: Nearly 50% of S’poreans polled found to be upset or angry
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Featured image adapted from Pritam Singh on Facebook and Instagram.
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