Analysis of Pritam Singh’s Trial Testimony: Insights into a Political Controversy
Pritam Singh’s Testimony on Meeting Raeesah Khan
During the trial, former WP cadre Yudhishthra Nathan testified that Pritam Singh met with Raeesah Khan on October 3, 2021, and assured her that he would not judge her, regardless of whether she chose to continue lying or tell the truth to Parliament.
The Allegations Against Pritam Singh
Pritam Singh is facing two charges for allegedly lying to a parliamentary committee about his interactions with Raeesah Khan. It is alleged that on August 8 and October 3, 2021, Singh wanted Khan to clarify her untruth in Parliament.
Raeesah Khan’s Controversy
Raeesah Khan initially lied to Parliament on August 3, 2021, about accompanying a sexual assault victim to a police station. She repeated the claim on October 4, 2021, before admitting to her lie on November 1, 2021.
Key Testimony from Yudhishthra Nathan
- Nathan mentioned Singh’s feeling that Khan’s untruth would come up in Parliament.
- Singh visited Khan on October 3, 2021, and conveyed that he would not judge her regardless of her decision.
- Nathan revealed that Singh did not specify when Khan was supposed to make her decision.
- Singh had consulted former WP chief Low Thia Khiang, who believed Khan should come clean as soon as possible.
Insights into Party Dynamics
Nathan expressed concerns about the party’s disciplinary panel being a “witch hunt” and indicated biases against Khan from fellow MPs. He highlighted tensions between Khan and MP He Ting Ru.
Redaction of Messages and Testimony
Redaction of Immaterial Information
Nathan redacted a message from a group chat with Khan and fellow cadre Loh Pei Ying, deeming it immaterial to the COP investigation. He believed it was irrelevant to the committee’s focus on party leaders’ treatment of Khan.
Process of Redaction
- Nathan explained that he was guided by committee members to redact irrelevant information.
- He detailed the process of redacting messages at the Parliament House library, with a COP member present.
- Nathan mentioned providing reasons for each redaction and completing the process in his car.
Cross-Examination Ahead
Yudhishthra Nathan’s cross-examination is set to begin on October 21, shedding further light on the intricacies of the case.