Prosecution says Pritam contradicted himself: Highlights from day 11 of WP chief’s trial

SINGAPORE – Workers’ Party (WP) chief Pritam Singh was accused of contradicting himself in his statements to the court and a parliamentary committee as he took the stand on the second day of a hearing into false allegations.

On November 6, Deputy Public Prosecutor Ang Cheng Hock told Singh that he had given conflicting statements about his interactions with former Sengkang GRC MP Raeesah Khan.

Singh had testified the previous day under questioning by his lawyer, Mr. Andre Jumabhoy.

Opposition Leader faces two charges About lying to the Committee of Privileges (COP) In his statement on 8 August and 3 October 2021, he asked Ms Khan to explain her lie to Parliament.

The truth of what happened between the two before and after their lies became a central point of contention between the prosecution and defense.

Here are the highlights from Singh’s cross-examination:

Claim 1: What Singh told the COP about his meeting with Khan on October 3 contradicts what he said in court

Mr Ang questioned Singh’s statements about his expectations of Ms Khan on October 4, 2021 – that day. He repeated his lie in the Parliament.

He said: “I tell you it is contradictory. You told the court (you lied) that he didn’t have to make a statement if the issue wasn’t raised, but at the COP, you told the COP that it was very clear what you told him, regardless of whether the topic was raised or not. He had to make a statement the next day.

“My question is, which one is real?”

Singh told the court that what he said was true.

He said it was quite clear from his responses to the COP that he would expect him to clarify the issue if it came up in Parliament on 4 October. But even if it wasn’t, it should be clarified “at some point,” he added.

Singh said it was possible, in hindsight, that his remarks during the COP inquiry implied that Ms Khan would have to make a personal statement.

“But I make clear elsewhere in the COP report that if it comes up he will have to make a statement on October 4.”

Mr Ang then asked again whether what Singh had told the court was true and whether what he had told the COP was true.

Singh opposed this. He said: “I guess my frame of mind was… it was on October 3rd, he was going to have to explain.”