Singapore Opposition Leader Guilty of Perjury

Singapore opposition leader Pritam Singh, the leader of the nation’s biggest opposition party, the Worker’s Party, was found guilty in a court on Monday of providing false evidence under oath to Parliament. He was fined 7,000 Singapore dollars ($5,220) for each of the two charges. Singh is also a Member of Parliament and will appeal the conviction. But he can still remain in office and run for the next election because the fine is below the amount that would bar him.

Singh’s sentence is also connected to how he dealt with a matter concerning another Member of Parliament from his party, Raeesah Khan, who lied to Parliament in 2021. The case has created doubt regarding the credibility of Singh’s party, particularly among swing voters, ahead of next year’s election.

The case adds to a tally of recent political scandals rocking Singapore, after the conviction of an ex-transport minister on charges of bribery and resignation of Parliament Speaker due to a scandal.