SINGAPORE — Nearly a year the Committee of Privileges (COP) made its stance known on the Raeesah Khan case, it’s revealed that Workers’ Party leaders Pritam Singh and Faisal Manap are still under criminal investigation, according to Law Minister K Shanmugam. These findings came after allegations were raised against WP Khan, suggesting that Pritam Singh and Faisal Manap had lied about the complaints filed against her.
The COP concluded on Feb 10, 2022, that the leaders of the WP had indeed lied about the complaint against Ms. Raeesah Khan, recommending that Mr. Pritam Singh and Mr. Manap be referred to the public prosecutor. The misconduct allegations against these WP leaders concerned Mr. Pritam Singh’s conduct before the committee and Mr. Faisal’s alleged contempt of Parliament for his refusal to answer relevant questions.
A few months later, on Apr 29, the case regarding Pritam Singh and Faisal Manap’s investigation was referred by the public prosecutor to the police.
Singapore Law Minister K Shanmugam was vocal about the ongoing investigation, stating on Tuesday (Feb 7) in reply to a parliamentary question that the police probe into the conduct of Mr. Pritam Singh and Mr. Faisal Manapis still ongoing.
A lawyer quoted by TODAY said that completing criminal proceedings could take months or even years.
Nevertheless, netizens commenting on Facebook and Reddit wondered why such an investigation would take so long.
On Feb 10, 2022, the COP recommended that Ms Raeesah Khan be given a S$35,000 fine for having told falsehoods in Parliament on Aug 3 and Oct 4, 2021.
Ms Khan, who had been an MP at Sengkang GRC, dropped a bombshell in Parliament at the beginning of November of that 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. In her apology, she revealed that she 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
https://theindependent.sg/im-proud-of-the-party-and-proud-of-how-quickly-we-came-together-as-one-pritam-singh-says-in-wake-of-raeesah-khan-scandal/