Live: Former WP chief Low Thia Khiang to testify as prosecution witness in Pritam's trial

Leader of the Opposition and Workers’ Party (WP) MP Pritam Singh is set to go on trial starting today (Oct. 14).

He faces two charges of lying to Parliament.

Watch this space as we bring you live updates.

10:15am

Former WP chief Low Thia Khiang met Singh and Lim on Oct. 11, 2021, where he was informed that Raeesah’s anecdote was untrue, said Deputy Attorney-General Ang Cheng Hock.

He advised the two WP leaders that Raeesah should clarify the lie in Parliament “as soon as possible” and apologise.

The prosecution will present evidence from Low on the advice he gave, and on the exchange they had during the meeting.

According to CNA, Low will testify as one of five prosecution witnesses.

10:00am

Raeesah’s former aides, Loh Pei Ying and Yudhishthra Nathan, were identified as key witnesses in the case.

“They will shed light on what the accused had told Ms Khan,” Deputy Public Prosecutor Ang Cheng Hock said.

9:55am

After a minor dispute over the chronology of key events, Deputy Public Prosecutor Ang Cheng Hock has started reading the prosecution’s opening statement.

He said that the prosecution would proceed on both charges under Section 31Q, involving making false witness to the COP.

The two charges include two conversations involving Raeesah on Aug. 8 and Oct. 3, 2021, and are as follows:

1. Falsely testifying before the COP on Dec. 10, 2021, that at the conclusion of his meeting with Raeesah and the WP leaders on Aug. 8, 2021, he wanted Raeesah to clarify in Parliament that she had lied about having accompanied a rape victim to a police station, and;
2. Falsely testifying before the COP on Dec. 10 and 15, 2021, that when he spoke to Raeesah on Oct. 3, 2021, he wanted her to clarify that she had lied to Parliament about the anecdote, if the issue were to come up in the Parliament sitting the next day.

The conversations involved a lie that Raeesah said in Parliament on Aug. 3, 2021. Singh found out that it was untrue on Aug. 7, 2021 — four days later.

9:30am

Faisal Manap, vice-chair of the WP, arrived at around 9:30am.

He previously denied to the Committee of Privileges (COP) that the WP leaders told Raeesah to take the lie in Parliament "to the grave".

He was also referred to the Public Prosecutor for refusing to answer questions put to him by the COP, but was issued an advisory and not charged in the end.

9:23am

Singh has taken a seat in the court.

Several of Singh’s WP colleagues — Gerald Giam, He Ting Ru, Jamus Lim, and Louis Chua — are also seated in the public gallery.

The courtroom is nearly full, with only a few empty seats left.

9:04am

Pritam Singh arrived at the State Courts at 9:04am.

As members of the media jostled for photos and videos, he said: "If we're going to do this, someone is going to fall down."

When approached by reporters for comments, he replied: “Let’s wait for the hearing.”

8:45am

Former WP MP Raeesah Khan has arrived at the State Courts.

She was swarmed by reporters, but did not stop to speak to the media.

8:40am

As of 8:40am, 29 of 43 tickets have been given out for tickets in the public gallery.

It's raining heavily at the State Courts.

8:34am

Jamus Lim, Member of Parliament for Sengkang GRC, has arrived at the State Courts.

“I appreciate your effort, but I’ve nothing else to tell you,” he told reporters.

8:30am

Singaporean influencer Xiaxue has arrived at the State Courts.

She mentioned in an Instagram Story at around 1am that she would be attending the trial, and was “so excited”.

The content creator previously shared a blow-by-blow explanation video of the Raeesah Khan case and has professed an interest in the matter.

7:53am

The case is scheduled to start at 9:30am.

Admission tickets to the hearing were issued from 7am.

As of 7:53am, 20 of the 43 tickets have been handed out.

Background

Pritam Singh's trial arises from his involvement in Raeesah Khan's case.

Singh and Raeesah were among several people who testified before the Committee of Privileges (COP) formed to look into her telling untruths in parliament in August and October 2021.

The COP sanctioned Raeesah for her untruths and concluded that Singh, along with fellow WP leaders Faisal Manap and Sylvia Lim had been "untruthful in their evidence, under oath, to this committee".

Singh was charged on Mar. 19, 2024, with two charges of lying to Parliament.

He's accused of falsely testifying that at the conclusion of an Aug. 8, 2021 meeting with Raeesah, Lim, and Faisal, he wanted Raeesah to clarify in Parliament that she had lied about having accompanied a rape victim to a police station.

He was also alleged to have falsely testified that when he spoke to Raeesah on Oct. 3, 2021, he wanted her to admit to having lied to Parliament about the original anecdote, if the issue were to come up in the sitting the next day.

He pleaded not guilty and a 16-day trial has been scheduled to take place between Oct. 14 and Nov. 13.

Top photo by Andrew Koay