Singapore's opposition leader Pritam Singh has lost his appeal against a guilty verdict of lying to a parliamentary committee.
In February, Singh was fined S$14,000 ($10,800; £8,100) for two charges related to his handling of Raeesah Khan, a former lawmaker from his party who confessed to lying to parliament.
In a short hearing to a packed court public gallery on Friday, the judge stated that Singh's conviction was supported by the evidence provided.
Singh expressed disappointment with the decision but accepted it fully and without reservation. He paid the fines at the courthouse immediately after the hearing, stating, Might as well get it done, when speaking to reporters.
Despite this conviction, Singh retains his seat in parliament and intends to continue serving Singaporeans alongside his colleagues. The Workers' Party, which he leads, is the only opposition party currently represented in Singapore's parliament, holding 12 out of 99 seats.
What to know about the case
The saga began in 2021 when Khan claimed in parliament to have witnessed police misconduct toward a sexual assault victim. She later admitted her statement was false, alleging that Singh and other party leaders advised her to continue with the narrative despite knowing it was a lie.
Khan has since resigned from the party and parliament and was fined S$35,000 for her actions. In February, the court determined that Singh's actions were strongly indicative of his intention not to have Khan clarify her lie.
Singh maintained his innocence and argued that he wished to give Khan time to address what he described as a sensitive issue. His lawyer criticized the court for allegedly overlooking vital evidence during the appeal hearing.
As Singh's case stands out as one of the few criminal convictions against a sitting opposition lawmaker, it has raised concerns about political persecution in Singapore, which critics accuse the government of employing against its adversaries. However, the authorities staunchly deny such allegations.
