Breaking news: COP recommends Raeesah Khan S$35,000 fine; Pritam Singh, Faisal Manap to be referred for criminal proceedings

Singapore — The Committee of Privileges released its findings regarding the Raeesah Khan case on Thursday (Feb 10). 

The committee recommended for Ms Khan to be given S$35,000 fine for having told falsehoods in Parliament on Aug 3 and Oct 4.

The COP also concluded that the leaders of the Workers’ Party (WP) also lied in relation to the complaint against Ms Khan.

It found that she was acting under the direction of the WP secretary-general, Pritam Singh, and the party chair and vice-chair, Ms Sylvia Lim and Mr Faisal Manap, respectively.

Furthermore, the committee recommended that Mr Singh and Mr Manap be referred to the public prosecutor in relation to Mr Singh’s conduct before the committee and Mr Faisal’s possible contempt of Parliament for his refusal to answer “relevant” questions, The Straits Times (ST) reported late on Thursday afternoon.

The public prosecutor will then consider if criminal proceedings will be launched against the two Aljunied GRC MPs.

ST added that if Mr Singh is to be sanctioned, this would be deferred until investigations or criminal proceedings against him are finished.

TODAY added that the COP noted that it holds Mr Singh to be the most culpable among the WP leadership, adding that the Attorney-General has been called upon to determine whether criminal proceedings should be launched.

Ms Khan, who had been an MP at Sengkang GRC, dropped a bombshell in Parliament at the beginning of November of last year, admitting she had lied when she told the House on Aug 3 she had accompanied a victim of sexual assault to the police station and accused the police of making inappropriate remarks.

By Nov 30, she announced her resignation from the Workers’ Party, and consequently, her seat in Parliament as well. In her apology, she revealed that she herself had been a victim of sexual abuse at 18 while studying overseas, and had heard the victim’s story in a support group for sexual abuse survivors.

After her confession, the Leader of the House, Ms Indranee Rajah, said she was referring the matter to Parliament’s Committee of Privileges.  

While she expressed sympathy for Ms Khan, Ms Indranee added that she had “no choice” but to raise a complaint about the breach of privilege based on Ms Khan’s disclosure that she had thrice lied in Parliament, and also her inability to substantiate an allegation she made. /TISG

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