| Daily Update of the Pritam Singh Trial – October 24, 2024 |
12:54
Defence to make written submissions for first charge against Pritam Singh by Oct 30; hearing adjourned until Nov 5
Defence lawyer Andre Jumabhoy says the defence will be making written submissions on the first charge against Pritam Singh, and proposes to file the submissions on Oct 30.
Deputy Attorney-General Ang Cheng Hock says the prosecution will be filing a reply by Nov 1.
Deputy Principal District Judge Luke Tan suggests that the defence should file its submissions by noon on Oct 30, and the prosecution should reply by the end of the day on Nov 1. Both parties agree.
The hearing is adjourned. The next tranche of the trial will begin at 9.30am on Nov 5.
12:54
Judge asks prosecution, defence to address part of first charge against Pritam Singh in submissions
Deputy Principal District Judge Luke Tan asks both sides to address in their submissions a part of the first charge against Pritam Singh, where he allegedly told Ms Raeesah Khan to clarify her lie in Parliament.
The charge states that Singh had falsely testified before the Committee of Privileges (COP) on Dec 10, 2021, that after the meeting with Ms Raeesah Khan, Ms Sylvia Lim and Mr Faisal Manap on Aug 8 that year, he wanted Ms Khan to, at some point, clarify the lie in Parliament.
On Friday last week, Judge Tan pointed out that Singh never used the words “clarify in Parliament” in his testimony to the COP, and asked if this is an inference the court is intended to make.
Deputy Attorney-General Ang Cheng Hock said yes. He added then that it is not just an inference the court can draw, but also the only natural inference, since there was no suggestion by Singh that he meant anything else.
Today, both Judge Tan and DAG Ang point to several instances in the COP transcripts where the word “clarify” appeared. The judge then asks both the prosecution and defence to address his query on the first charge in their submissions.
Judge Tan adds that the second charge had a similar issue, but left it up to both parties to decide if they want to address the issue in their submissions.
11:45
Police reviewed Pritam Singh’s phone, did not conduct forensic extraction: Prosecution
Deputy Attorney-General Ang Cheng Hock reads out facts involving Pritam Singh’s police investigation.
DAG Ang says that Singh’s phone was seized by the police during the course of investigations.
After the police reviewed Singh’s phone in his presence, they chose not to conduct forensic extraction of the phone’s contents, he adds.
Singh’s lawyer Andre Jumabhoy says the defence agrees with these facts.
That is the prosecution’s case, DAG Ang says.
11:23
Pritam Singh arrives at court for ninth day of his trial
Workers’ Party chief Pritam Singh arrives at court for the ninth day of his trial.
The proceedings will start at 11.30am.
