Singapore’s opposition leader Pritam Singh on Tuesday defended himself in court over comments made to an investigation panel, saying he never told a former MP to take to the grave lies she had told in parliament.
Singh, 48, is embroiled in controversy stemming from former Workers’ Party MP Raeesah Khan’s lies to parliament in August and October 2021 about accompanying a rape victim to a police station.
He faces two charges for giving false evidence under oath during parliamentary committee hearings held in December that year.
Before a packed courtroom on Tuesday, Singh told the court that he elected to give evidence after Deputy Principal District Judge Luke Tan ruled that the prosecution had provided sufficient evidence, or a prima facie case, to proceed with the trial.
Singh’s lawyer Andre Jumabhoy told the court on Tuesday that the defence did not intend to call any other witnesses at this stage.
Singh testified that he saw potential in Khan who volunteered in his ward and had shown empathy to residents. Because of this, he asked her then if she wanted to run as a candidate, to which she agreed.
