Workers' Party files full motion in Parliament for all MPs to debate Parti Liyani case related issues

A full motion would allow all MPs to join the debate.

Belmont Lay | October 22, 2020, 01:16 AM

The Workers' Party (WP) has filed a full motion in Parliament to speak on issues related to the case on Parti Liyani, it said on Oct. 21.

"The motion pertains to the issues raised by the Parti Liyani case, such as access to justice for all," the opposition party wrote in a Facebook post.

The motion was filed by WP chair and Aljunied Member of Parliament (MP) Sylvia Lim and supported by Sengkang MP He Ting Ru.

Full motion for debate by all MPs

A full motion would allow any and all MPs to join the debate on the motion in Parliament, WP said.

The motion reads: "That this House affirms that fairness, access and independence are cornerstones of Singapore’s justice system, and calls on the government to recognize and remedy its shortcomings in order to enhance justice for all, regardless of means or social status, including facilitating a review of the justice system."

The next Parliament sitting is on Nov. 2.

Adjournment motion not selected

In early October, Lim's adjournment motion was not selected in a random ballot.

She had wanted to speak about enhancing equity in the criminal justice system.

WP subsequently said it would "coincide its contribution" to the debate with the ministerial statement to be made by Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam in Parliament in November.

This would do away with seeking any further ballot on the issue.

Shanmugam said speak on Parti case

Shanmugam has said he would deliver a ministerial statement on Parti's case following notices of various questions that have been filed by MPs, which he received.

He had earlier said that something had "gone wrong in the chain of events" of the case that will have to be looked at.

Background

Parti worked for former Changi Airport Group chairman Liew Mun Leong and was acquitted in September 2020 of stealing from the Liew family.

Parti, 46, was sentenced to more than two years' jail in March 2019 initially as she was found guilty of four charges of stealing about S$34,000 worth of items from the Liew family.

She had her convictions overturned in the High Court after her appeal was allowed.

Parti has decided to proceed with her case against two prosecutors and seek a disciplinary inquiry against them for alleged misconduct.

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