October 14, 2024 Update: Pritam Singh’s Trial for Alleged Misrepresentation in Parliament

Key Summary:

Pritam Singh, leader of Singapore’s Workers’ Party, is on trial for allegedly instructing a former party member, Raeesah Khan, to lie in Parliament. Singh pleaded not guilty to these charges. Khan testified, expressing her admiration for Singh and recounting an August 2021 meeting where she understood that she didn’t need to address her lie. The trial will also hear testimonies from former party secretary-general Low Thia Khiang and ex-cadre members Loh Pei Ying and Yudhishthra Nathan.

17:30

Day 1 of Pritam’s trial concludes

DPP Ramasamy stated that the proceedings are “on schedule” and anticipates that the examination of Ms. Raeesah Khan will be completed within the first one-and-a-half to two hours on Tuesday, October 15, 2024.

Ms. Khan departed from the State Courts building, with the hearing adjourned until 9:30 AM the following day.

17:23

17:07

Raeesah Khan did not want to implicate party leadership in her lie

In court, Ms. Raeesah Khan explained why she did not disclose to the CEC that she had informed Pritam Singh, Ms. Sylvia Lim, or Mr. Faisal Manap about her lie on August 7, 2021. She stated that her intention was to protect the party leadership and avoid implicating others in her mistake of lying in Parliament.

Khan emphasised her desire to take full responsibility for the situation, indicating that she did not want to shift blame onto her party leaders for her actions.

17:06

Raeesah Khan did not inform CEC about prior disclosure to party leaders

During the proceedings, it was revealed that while the Workers’ Party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) was aware that Ms. Raeesah Khan had lied in Parliament, they were not informed that Pritam Singh, Ms. Sylvia Lim, and Mr. Faisal Manap had already been made aware of her lie prior to the meeting.

When questioned by the Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) about whether she had communicated to the CEC when she had informed the party leaders of her lie, Ms. Khan responded negatively. She explained, “At that time, I was just focused on sharing my personal statement, and nobody asked that question.”

By the time she presented her personal statement during the CEC meeting, Ms. Khan noted that it was a version that was “pretty much finalised.”

17:05

Pritam’s lawyer objects to DPP’s line of questioning regarding CEC meeting

During the court proceedings, the Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) asked Ms. Raeesah Khan whether Pritam Singh had spoken during the Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting on October 29, 2021. Ms. Khan responded, “Not that I can recall.” She also answered negatively to separate questions about whether Ms. Sylvia Lim or Mr. Faisal Manap had spoken during the same meeting.

The DPP then inquired if Singh had informed the CEC during that meeting that Ms. Khan had disclosed her lie to him on August 7, 2021. At this point, Singh’s lawyer, former prosecutor Andre Jumabhoy, interjected, arguing that the question seemed to “put words that she can’t recall” into Ms. Khan’s mouth. Judge Luke Tan then stated, “Let’s move on; she can’t remember.”

17:04

Raeesah Khan did not inform CEC about prior notification to party leaders regarding her lie

While the Workers’ Party Central Executive Committee (CEC) was aware that Ms. Raeesah Khan had lied in Parliament, they were not informed that Pritam Singh, Ms. Sylvia Lim, and Mr. Faisal Manap had already been made aware of her deception beforehand.

When asked by the Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) whether she had notified the CEC about informing the party leaders, Ms. Khan replied no. “At that time, I was just focused on sharing my personal statement, and nobody asked that question,” she stated.

By the time she presented her personal statement during the CEC meeting, it was the version that was “pretty much finalised.”

16:48

Several drafts of Raeesah Khan’s statement made between Oct 12 and Nov 1, 2021

In the lead-up to Ms. Raeesah Khan’s public admission of lying in Parliament on November 1, 2021, the court learned that her statement underwent six drafts. The prosecution presented Ms. Khan with a series of messages exchanged among Workers’ Party members regarding these drafts.

Ms. Khan shared various versions of her statement with key figures, including Ms. Loh Pei Ying, Mr. Yudhishthra Nathan, Pritam Singh, and members of the Central Executive Committee (CEC).

16:29

Raeesah says she was asked to make personal statement in Parliament

When asked by the DPP about the specific instructions given by Pritam Singh and Ms. Sylvia Lim regarding how to tell the truth, Ms. Raeesah Khan stated that they directed her to draft a statement and present it as a personal statement in the next Parliament sitting.

They discussed whether to include her personal experience with assault in the statement, with Singh leaving that decision to her discretion.

The DPP then inquired if Ms. Khan’s parents were aware of her assault at that time, to which she responded that they were not. Following this, she was instructed to share the draft of her personal statement with Singh for his review.

16:23

Pritam said it would be best to come clean, says Raeesah Khan

During a meeting at Pritam Singh’s house on October 12, 2021, Singh told Ms. Raeesah Khan that it would be best to tell the truth in the upcoming Parliament sitting. He believed that it would be best to have a resolution to the ongoing incident.

Ms. Sylvia Lim added that the matter would eventually “blow over” once Ms. Khan came forward with the truth, assuring her that both she and Singh would provide support.

Ms. Khan realises that Singh and Ms Lim were right but adds that the idea of publicly confessing to her “dire mistake” filled her with fear.

16:16

WP leadership did not reply when asked what to do about police investigations

As the trial resumed, it was disclosed that Workers’ Party leaders—Pritam Singh, Ms. Sylvia Lim, and Mr. Faisal Manap—did not respond to an email from Ms. Raeesah Khan inquiring about how to address a request from the police for an interview.

In her email, sent on October 7, 2021, Ms. Khan expressed gratitude, stating, “Thank you for listening to me, for caring for me, and for guiding me through this without judgement.”

15:57

Pritam told her it was “too late” to tell the truth, Raeesah Khan says

Asked if she had offered to clarify the untruth during a meeting with Pritam Singh and Ms Sylvia Lim on the night of the Oct 4, 2021, Parliament session, her initial reply was ‘no’. But she then retracts her answer, apologising and saying that she is trying to recollect the details of the incident, which happened three years ago.

Khan then confirmed that she had indeed asked the Workers’ Party leaders if she should come forward with the truth. In response, Singh told her that it was “too late for that.” Following this exchange, the court adjourned for a 15-minute break.

15:51

Raeesah Khan withdrew statement intended to stop questioning

Ms. Raeesah Khan testified in court that, under mounting scrutiny, she had drafted a statement in response to Law Minister K. Shanmugam’s inquiry in Parliament, hoping it would halt further questioning. The draft, created on her phone, expressed her disappointment that the Government had pressured her into breaking confidentiality with the victim involved in her story.

Khan says she wrote this because she was afraid of the consequences of coming out with the truth and she believed the statement would put an end to the questioning. However, when asked why she ultimately did not present the statement in Parliament, she revealed that she shared the draft with Ms. Loh, who advised her against it, labelling it a “terrible” thing to say.

15:44

Messages were deleted because Raeesah Khan was afraid of ‘the Government’ finding out

When the DPP points out that several messages were deleted in a WhatsApp group chat involving herself, Ms. Loh, and Mr. Nathan on October 4, 2021, Ms Khan explains, “We were really scared that someone was reading our messages.” She added that the messages were about the fact that she had lied.

When pressed further, Ms. Khan specifies that she feared “the Government” discovering that the anecdote she had shared was not true.

15:40

Raeesah Khan’s conversation with Sylvia Lim in Parliament

During her testimony, Ms. Raeesah Khan recounts a conversation with Ms. Sylvia Lim that took place during a break in the parliamentary sitting on October 4, 2021. She shares that Ms. Lim discussed the Parliament’s Standing Orders and explained the procedures related to the Committee of Privileges. Ms. Khan remembers Ms. Lim mentioning that they would “chat later.”

When the Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) inquires whether Ms. Lim questioned her about her repeated lie in Parliament, Ms. Khan responds that she did not. The DPP then references Ms. Khan’s earlier comments regarding Ms. Lim outlining potential consequences if the issue were to be pressed. Ms. Khan clarifies that she interpreted this as a discussion about whether she might face an investigation or be referred to the Committee.

15:32

Raeesah Khan was “terrified” to admit truth

During the court proceedings, the prosecution plays a clip of Ms. Raeesah Khan responding to Law Minister K. Shanmugam in Parliament on October 4, 2021. In the video, she maintains her lie, stating that she was unable to get in touch with the victim related to her anecdote.

As the clip plays, Ms. Khan cups her face in her hands, visibly distressed. When questioned about her decision to lie again, she reveals that she was “terrified” of the potential consequences of coming forward with the truth. She felt Pritam Singh was supportive of her to continue the lie.

15:29

Raeesah Khan cups her face in her hands, looks away from screen

As Ms. Raeesah Khan is presented with a video of her exchange with Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam during the parliamentary session on October 4, 2021, she visibly struggles with the moment. She cups her face in her hands and avoids looking at the screen, instead glancing down or around the room.

When questioned about her repeated glances at a blue device on the podium during the session, Ms. Khan explains that she was checking her phone multiple times, hoping for a response from Pritam Singh to guide her.

At this moment, Pritam and his lawyer can be seen engaged in discussion, seemingly focused on the proceedings.

15:20

“What should I do, Pritam”: Raeesah Khan asks Pritam during ministerial statement on her anecdote

In Parliament on October 4, 2021, 4 minutes into Minister Shanmugam’s statement addressing Ms. Raeesah Khan’s false anecdote, she messaged Pritam Singh: “What should I do, Pritam?”

Both were present in the chamber at the time. Singh did not respond to her message.

In his statement, Mr. Shanmugam highlighted that the police had no records of any case matching Ms. Khan’s description and urged her to provide further details. However, Ms Khan declined to do so.

When questioned by the Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) about her message to Singh, Ms. Khan expressed that she was terrified and felt uncertain about how to proceed.

15:17

Singh “wouldn’t judge her” for continuing narrative: Raeesah Khan

Ms Raeesah Khan testified that Pritam Singh reassured her that she could maintain the narrative regarding her false anecdote.

During a visit to her home on October 3, 2021, which was prompted by his wife wanting to pass her some clothes, Singh discussed the upcoming Parliament sitting. He expressed that he doubted the issue of her lie would resurface, and if it did, he “wouldn’t judge her” for continuing with the narrative.

Following their conversation, Ms Khan felt a sense of confidence, believing she had Singh’s support. She was grateful to him for visiting to show his concern.

15:10

Pritam sent e-mail reminding MPs of Parliamentary protocol

The Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) referred Raeesah Khan to an email dated October 1, 2021, sent by Pritam Singh to all Workers’ Party MPs.

Titled “Parliamentary Protocol,” the email emphasised the importance of defending and substantiating statements made in the House, warning of the consequences of failing to do so, including the possibility of being summoned to the Committee of Privileges.

When asked about her reaction to the email, Ms Khan expressed that it made her feel “a little bit insecure,” suggesting it felt “almost like a dig at me.”

15:08

‘Sometimes I felt (Pritam) had a very condescending tone’: Raeesah Khan

Referencing a screenshot of an email from Pritam Singh that she sent to Yudhishthra Nathan and Loh Pei Ying on September 21, 2021, Raeesah Khan expressed her frustrations about Singh’s communication style. The email, which was part of her preparations for an upcoming parliamentary sitting, included Singh’s feedback on her proposed questions, in which he questioned whether she had conducted her own research.

“I think sometimes I felt that he had a very condescending tone that I don’t know if he only used on me or other people… That was the first time I verbalised it,” Khan stated when asked why she shared the email with her aides.

Despite her feelings, she chose not to confront Singh directly, saying, “He’s the leader of the party. I wouldn’t vent my personal opinion to him like that.”

14:30

Court Proceedings Resume

The court is back in session at 2:30 PM after the lunch break. The prosecution will continue questioning Ms. Raeesah Khan.

13:00

Court Break for Lunch

The court is now adjourned for lunch and will reconvene at 2:30 PM.

12:48

Social Media Post on Muslim Affairs: Detailed Process Before Publication

In court, Ms. Raeesah Khan described the meticulous process involved in preparing a social media post aimed at clarifying her statements on issues concerning the Muslim community. She explained that she sought input from multiple parties before publishing the post.

Ms. Khan shared a draft with Pritam Singh and Mr. Faisal Manap, the latter being heavily involved with the Muslim community. The draft was also reviewed by her aides, Yudhishthra Nathan and Loh Pei Ying.

Pritam Singh further took the step of running the post by Ms. Sylvia Lim. Afterward, he advised Ms. Khan: “Please read this version carefully, word by word.” Once all feedback was considered, Singh ultimately approved the post for publication.

12:28

Relief After Confessing to Party Leaders: Raeesah Khan

Ms. Raeesah Khan expressed feeling a “huge sense of relief” after her meeting with Workers’ Party leaders—Pritam Singh, Ms. Sylvia Lim, and Mr. Faisal Manap—on August 8, 2021, where she confessed to lying in Parliament. She was relieved to have shared her truth with the party members she trusted most and felt a weight lifted off her shoulders by no longer having to maintain the lie.

Following the meeting, Ms. Khan communicated with Ms. Loh Pei Ying and Mr. Yudhishthra Nathan, informing them about her discussion with the party leaders. According to Ms. Khan, they advised her that the best course of action was to take the information to the grave.

12:27

No Advice Received on How to Deal with Lie After Aug 8 Meeting: Raeesah Khan

Ms. Raeesah Khan stated that after her meeting with Workers’ Party leaders on August 8, 2021, she believed she would not have to take any action regarding her lie in Parliament. She indicated that she received no guidance from them on necessary steps, such as drafting speeches, making clarifications in Parliament, or contacting the police with additional information.

When questioned about why she felt no further action was required, Ms. Khan explained that she interpreted Pritam Singh’s comment about “taking it to the grave” as an indication not to talk about it anymore.

12:19

Raeesah Khan breaks down while discussing her sexual assault

During the meeting, Pritam Singh inquired if Ms. Raeesah Khan’s parents were aware of her sexual assault, to which she replied no. When asked if Singh, Ms. Sylvia Lim, or Mr. Faisal Manap encouraged her to tell her parents, she stated that they did not.

Ms. Khan explained to the court that she had no plans to inform them, expressing her belief that no parent wants to hear that their child has been assaulted. Tearfully, she conveyed the pain a mother would feel upon learning that something had happened to her daughter. She emphasised that she never intended for her parents to learn the details of her assault.

However, she noted that her parents eventually found out, as Singh had shared specifics during the Committee of Privileges hearing without her consent. When the judge asked if she was able to continue, she affirmed that she was.

12:11

‘Yes, If Pritam Wishes for It to Be’: Raeesah Khan to Loh Pei Ying

On August 7, 2021, Ms. Raeesah Khan had a Zoom call with fellow Workers’ Party members Loh Pei Ying and Yudhishthra Nathan. After informing them via text that she had done something “stupid and unnecessary,” Ms. Loh inquired whether the situation was “internal and easy to contain.” Ms. Khan responded, “Yes, if Pritam wishes for it to be,” indicating that the decision on how to address the issue rested with Pritam Singh. She expressed a desire to avoid making her experience with sexual assault public, emphasizing her reluctance to disclose specific details.

Pritam Said Lie Was Something She Would Have to Take to the Grave, Says Raeesah Khan

During a meeting on August 8, 2021, with Pritam Singh, Ms. Sylvia Lim, and Mr. Faisal Manap, Ms. Khan recounted how Singh suggested that she might have to take her lie to the grave. He mentioned the possibility of bringing her before the Committee of Privileges but did not clarify why she would need to keep the lie hidden.

12:07

‘I Was Terrified Because I Knew I Didn’t Have That Information’: Raeesah Khan

During her testimony, Ms. Raeesah Khan recounted her feelings of fear and anxiety when pressed by Pritam Singh on August 3, 2021, to prove a connection to the victim mentioned in her anecdote. She stated, “I was terrified because I knew that I didn’t have that information.” Despite this, she continued to lie about trying to reach out to the victim, explaining that she “just wanted the messages to stop.”

When Deputy Public Prosecutor Sivakumar Ramasamy inquired about her decision to maintain the lie in a conversation with Singh on August 5, 2021, Ms. Khan sighed and shared that she was grappling with various concerns, including the potential impact of her mistake on other sexual assault survivors and the difficulty of sharing her own traumatic experiences.

It wasn’t until August 7, 2021, that Ms. Khan decided to come forward with the truth, feeling unsettled about the situation. She expressed her realization that “the truth might come out anyway,” prompting her to seek guidance from Singh.

11:58

Pritam Singh’s warning to Raeesah Khan: ‘Please don’t be beguiled by this support’

After Raeesah Khan’s clarification in Parliament, Pritam Singh sent her a WhatsApp message on August 4, 2021, cautioning, “Please don’t be beguiled by this support; politically speaking, it was a bad day in the office for us.”

When asked in court about her understanding of the message, Ms. Khan explained that she believed Singh was displeased with her sharing the anecdote in Parliament without having the evidence to support it.

Later that day, she requested a meeting to discuss her future, expressing that she felt “extremely lost” and disappointed in herself for making such a significant mistake. She further explained that she was filled with self-doubt, questioning if her role as a Member of Parliament was truly the right path for her.

Ms. Khan frequently sighed before answering questions on the stand, indicating the emotional toll of the situation.

11:53

Raeesah Khan Sought Help from Pritam

While maintaining her lie in Parliament, Ms. Raeesah Khan shared the lines she intended to say with Pritam Singh. In a text message, she informed him, “This is an edit proposed,” and Singh accepted the proposed edits at that time.

Ms. Khan clarified that her intention was not to cast aspersions on the police during her speech. The prosecution also inquired why she had asked Singh whether she should raise her hand to make a clarification in Parliament. In response, Ms. Khan explained that she was uncertain about the proper process for seeking clarification and whether Singh wanted her to draw the Speaker’s attention herself or if he would handle that communication directly.

11:37

Raeesah Khan Says She Didn’t Understand Severity of Pritam’s Request to Substantiate Part of Her Anecdote

During her testimony, Ms. Raeesah Khan recalled sharing a printed copy of her speech with Pritam Singh on the day of the August 3, 2021, Parliament session. Singh had circled a portion of her anecdote and requested that she substantiate it before returning the document. Ms. Khan admitted that she did not grasp the seriousness of his request, which ultimately led her to make no changes to her speech.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Sivakumar Ramasamy referred to text messages exchanged between Singh and Ms. Khan later that evening, where Singh expressed his feelings about potential repercussions and mentioned that he had highlighted a part of her speech. Ms. Khan clarified that Singh was specifically referring to the anecdote that had been questioned during the parliamentary session.

As she answered the prosecutor’s questions, Singh maintained his focus on the document in front of him, avoiding eye contact with Ms. Khan.

11:36

False Anecdote on Police Handling of Rape Case Shared with Party Leaders Before Raeesah’s Speech

During her testimony, Ms. Raeesah Khan explained that her speech for the parliamentary sitting was prepared in the weeks leading up to the event and did not initially include the false anecdote about the police handling of a rape case. She stated, “I just wrote my thoughts down and formulated my research around that.”

The anecdote was added just a few days before the sitting and was subsequently shared with Pritam Singh and Mr. Faisal Manap. However, Ms. Khan noted that Mr. Manap only provided feedback on the sections related to Muslim affairs, particularly the hijab, and did not comment on the anecdote. She expressed uncertainty about whether he had read the full speech, saying, “I’m not sure if he read the full speech through, but he read the parts about me speaking about the hijab and the other Muslim issues.”

11:29

Friendships with Loh Pei Ying and Yudhishthra Nathan

During her testimony, Ms. Raeesah Khan spoke about her close relationships with two key figures in the Workers’ Party: Loh Pei Ying and Yudhishthra Nathan.

She described Ms. Loh, her former secretarial assistant, as a significant support in her role, particularly in organising meet-the-people sessions. Ms. Khan emphasised that she viewed Ms. Loh as a friend and often relied on her for guidance.

Additionally, Ms. Khan noted her close working relationship with Yudhishthra Nathan, who was then a grassroots leader in Sengkang. She described him as someone she could confide in, highlighting the importance of these friendships during her time as an MP.

11:25

‘I Revered Him’: Raeesah on Her Relationship with Pritam

In her testimony, Ms. Raeesah Khan spoke about her relationship with Pritam Singh during her time as a newly elected MP. She described him as a mentor whom she greatly admired, saying, “I revered him.”

Ms. Khan characterised Singh, the Workers’ Party’s secretary-general, as a figure who seemed to possess a wealth of knowledge and have all the answers, highlighting the respect and trust she placed in him during her early days in Parliament.

11:24

Raeesah Khan on Her Election Experience

During her testimony, Ms. Raeesah Khan described her experience in the 2020 general election as “not the smoothest of journeys,” especially as it was her first time participating in a hustings. She noted that she had little idea of what to expect, and dealing with the emergence of her old social media posts was particularly challenging.

The posts in question, which were investigated by the police, were made on February 2, 2018, and May 17, 2020. Following the investigation, Ms. Khan received a stern warning from the police and delivered a brief speech on September 17, 2020, apologising for the remarks. She mentioned that both the Workers’ Party’s media team and party chief Pritam Singh provided input for her apology.

Reflecting on her experience right after the election, Ms. Khan described it as a “tricky time,” expressing feelings of loneliness and uncertainty about herself.

11:13

Raeesah Khan Takes the Stand

The court resumed at approximately 11:10 AM with former Workers’ Party MP Raeesah Khan taking the stand after the short break.

Ms. Khan was sworn in and took the oath.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Sivakumar Ramasamy began the proceedings by asking her background questions about her involvement with the Workers’ Party.

10:49

Break for Court Transcribers

At approximately 10:50 AM, former Workers’ Party MP Raeesah Khan was called to the stand as the first witness. However, before her testimony could begin, Deputy Attorney-General Ang Cheng Hock requested a break for the court transcribers.

Ang informed the court that he had inquired how long the transcribers would need before they could take a break. He quoted their response: “The answer was ‘depends on how fast we talk’… And I think we tend to speak quite quickly, and she said 1½ hours.”

To accommodate the transcribers, Ang asked for a short break, which was scheduled to last until 11:10 AM. Ms. Khan’s testimony will follow the break.

10:44

Pritam Lied to Committee of Privileges to Downplay His Own Responsibility: Prosecution

During the trial, Deputy Attorney-General Ang Cheng Hock asserted that Pritam Singh had provided false testimonies to the Committee of Privileges (COP) in an effort to minimise his responsibility regarding the Raeesah Khan incident. He presented extracts from the COP transcript, highlighting exchanges between Singh and COP member Edwin Tong, the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, which clearly indicated that Singh had lied in his responses.

DAG Ang emphasised that Singh had not intended for the untruth to be clarified in Parliament on October 4, 2021, noting that there were no preparatory steps taken nor any clarificatory statements prepared for Ms. Khan. This lack of preparation stood in stark contrast to the extensive planning carried out from October 12 to 31, 2021, leading up to Ms. Khan’s eventual clarification in Parliament on November 1, 2021.

Ang pointed out that even in his testimony to the COP, Singh—a trained lawyer and experienced politician—had told Ms. Khan that he would “not judge her,” which he argued was self-explanatory. He concluded by stating that the evidence would demonstrate that Singh had guided Ms. Khan to maintain the untruth if it was raised in Parliament on October 4, 2021. This marked the end of the prosecution’s opening statement.

10:33

Pritam Told Raeesah Khan That Admitting to Lie Was ‘Her Call’

During a disciplinary panel meeting on November 29, 2021, DAG Ang Cheng Hock read out handwritten notes from Ms. Sylvia Lim, revealing that Pritam Singh told Ms. Raeesah Khan before the October 4, 2021, Parliament session that it was “her call” to clarify her lie. He asked if the need to do so had crossed her mind.

Ms. Khan acknowledged that it had, but she felt “consumed with guilt” and weighed down by her personal experiences. She also stated that if the party requested her resignation, she would comply. When she inquired whether the party’s media team would draft her resignation, Singh replied, “No, you own it.”

The following evening, Ms. Khan submitted her resignation.

10:26

Disciplinary Panel Within Workers’ Party Formed at Low Thia Khiang’s Recommendation

Mr. Low Thia Khiang recommended to Pritam Singh the formation of a disciplinary panel to investigate the matter, and Singh agreed to the proposal. This detail had not been disclosed during the Committee of Privileges hearings.

On November 2, 2021, Singh informed Ms. Sylvia Lim and Mr. Faisal Manap of his intention to establish the panel to review Ms. Raeesah Khan’s conduct. Both leaders expressed no objections to this decision.

The panel was subsequently formed with the three leaders, following approval from the Workers’ Party’s central executive committee.

10:23

Raeesah Khan Made Careful Preparations to Clarify the Untruth

From October 13 to 31, 2021, Ms. Raeesah Khan meticulously prepared to clarify the untruth at the upcoming Parliament sitting on November 1, 2021, according to Deputy Attorney-General Ang Cheng Hock.

During this period, she created several drafts of her clarificatory statement in consultation with Ms. Loh Pei Ying, Mr. Yudhishthra Nathan, Ms. Sylvia Lim, and Pritam Singh. DAG Ang noted that at least five drafts—if not more—were prepared by Ms. Khan and reviewed by Singh.

On October 29, 2021, Singh convened an urgent Workers’ Party central executive committee (CEC) meeting to inform its members about Ms. Khan’s forthcoming statement in Parliament. This marked the first time the WP CEC was made aware of the incident.

At the CEC meeting, Ms. Khan read aloud a draft of her statement, allowing CEC members to provide feedback. On November 1, 2021, Ms. Khan went on to clarify the untruth in Parliament.

10:18

Former WP Secretary-General Low Thia Khiang Will Testify

Mr. Low Thia Khiang will testify in the trial regarding his discussions with Pritam Singh and Ms. Sylvia Lim at his home on October 11, 2021. During this meeting, he learned of Ms. Raeesah Khan’s lie from August 3, 2021, as noted by Deputy Attorney-General Ang Cheng Hock.

As a member of the Workers’ Party’s central executive committee, Mr. Low advised both leaders that Ms. Khan should admit to her lie in Parliament and apologize as soon as possible. The following day, both leaders communicated directly with Ms. Khan for the first time, instructing her to clarify the truth in Parliament.

After a parliamentary sitting on October 4, 2021, Singh and Ms. Lim met with Ms. Khan, during which she suggested, “Perhaps there is another way. That is, to tell the truth.” The prosecution argues that Singh responded by telling her it was too late for that.

Mr. Low’s involvement had not been previously mentioned during the Committee of Privileges hearings, but he will be providing his testimony later in the trial, as stated by Mr. Ang.

10:13

Pritam Gave Raeesah Khan the Impression She Could Choose to Maintain Her Lie: DAG Ang

Deputy Attorney-General Ang Cheng Hock argued that Pritam Singh did not inform Ms. Raeesah Khan that she needed to clarify the untruth during a second meeting. On October 3, 2021, Singh and his wife visited Khan at her home, where he pulled her aside for a private conversation. He mentioned that it was possible the anecdote would be raised in Parliament the next day.

According to DAG Ang, Singh gave Khan the impression that she could choose to stick to her narrative—essentially the untruth—and suggested he would not judge her for doing so. By doing this, he intentionally guided her to continue maintaining the untruth, even if the issue was brought up in Parliament the next day.

On October 4, 2021, Ms. Khan upheld the untruth during the parliamentary session when it was addressed.

10:12

Silence by the Accused’: DAG Ang

Deputy Attorney-General Ang Cheng Hock informed the court that Pritam Singh never made it clear to Ms. Raeesah Khan that she needed to correct her lie.

Mr. Ang stated that between August 8 and October 2, 2021, there was “silence by the accused person, not a whisper from him about this untruth, what to do, whether she had to correct it, how to correct it.” He emphasised that it was as if the matter had been “buried.”

10:11

The Untruth

According to Deputy Attorney-General Ang Cheng Hock, Pritam Singh believed that Ms. Raeesah Khan’s lie would not resurface and that it was something they would all have to “take to the grave.”

During a meeting on August 8, 2021, with Singh, Workers’ Party chairwoman Sylvia Lim, and vice-chairman Faisal Manap, Ms. Khan revealed that the anecdote she shared in her speech on August 3 was false. She clarified that she had not accompanied the rape victim to the police station as she had claimed, but had only heard the story recounted at a women’s support group.

Ms. Khan attended the support group because she herself had been a victim of sexual assault overseas when she was younger.

While Singh, Ms. Lim, and Mr. Faisal comforted her during this meeting, none of them instructed her to correct the untruth in Parliament, as stated by DAG Ang.

10:02

Loh Pei Ying and Yudhishthra Nathan Will Testify

Two former Workers’ Party cadre members, Ms. Loh Pei Ying and Mr. Yudhishthra Nathan, are also set to testify during the trial.

Ms. Loh served as Raeesah Khan’s secretarial assistant, while Mr. Nathan was the secretary of the Sengkang Constituency Committee, chaired by Khan. Both were close confidantes who assisted her with her duties as an MP, including providing input on her parliamentary speeches.

On August 7, 2021, Ms. Khan confided in them that her anecdote was untrue and that she had informed Pritam Singh about it. Both Ms. Loh and Mr. Nathan later resigned from the party.

09:56

Raeesah Khan to Testify

Former Workers’ Party MP Raeesah Khan is set to take the stand during the trial. To provide full context, the prosecution will also present evidence, including WhatsApp communications and other documents, as stated by Deputy Attorney-General Ang Cheng Hock in his opening statement.

In August 2021, Khan recounted an anecdote about accompanying a rape victim to a police station, raising concerns in Parliament about the police’s treatment of the victim. This story was later revealed to be false.

The trial will focus on two key events from August 8 and October 3, 2021, specifically addressing what Pritam Singh communicated to Khan after she disclosed her lie and before she admitted in Parliament that she had lied.

09:51

Pritam Charged with Two Counts of Falsely Testifying to the Committee of Privileges

Pritam Singh is facing two counts of falsely testifying to the Committee of Privileges, as stated by Deputy Attorney-General Ang Cheng Hock.

• The first count alleges that on December 10, 2021, Singh lied to the committee by claiming that after a meeting with Raeesah Khan, Sylvia Lim, and Faisal Manap on August 8, 2021, he had wanted Khan to admit her lie in Parliament.
• The second count accuses him of lying on both December 10 and December 15, 2021, by stating that he had clearly instructed Khan on October 3, 2021, to clarify her lie in Parliament the following day.

In response to the charges, Singh declared, “I’m not guilty, your honour.” He is accompanied in the courtroom by his father, Mr. Amarjit Singh (above), who will assist in his son’s defence.

09:34

Judge Luke Tan Enters the Courtroom

Deputy Principal District Judge Luke Tan, who oversees the Criminal Courts cluster at the State Courts, entered the courtroom at approximately 9:30 am. A former prosecutor, Judge Tan is a veteran with many years of experience on the bench.

09:03

Pritam Singh Arrives in Court

Pritam Singh arrived at the State Courts at 9:03 AM, accompanied by his lawyer, former prosecutor Andre Jumabhoy. After stepping out of his Renault at the drop-off point, he greeted the media, wishing them good morning.

As he greeted the Workers’ Party MPs present, he wished them good luck for the Parliament session later in the day.

08:55

Raeesah Khan Arrives at State Courts

Former Workers’ Party MP Raeesah Khan arrived at the State Courts at 8:45 AM, walking under a sheltered walkway with an umbrella. Despite being swarmed by reporters, she made no comments as she approached the building.

Around 8:55 AM, she walked directly into the building and was led into the witness room. As she passed by, Aljunied GRC MP Gerald Giam, who was waiting to enter the public gallery, glanced at her, but she did not look back. Sengkang GRC MP Louis Chua was also present, marking a significant moment in the proceedings as the media continued to await the arrival of Pritam Singh.