PRITAM SINGH v PUBLIC PROSECUTOR

Case Significance

Pritam Singh v Public Prosecutor [2024] SGHC 233 was decided by Hoo Sheau Peng J in the General Division of the High Court on 9 September 2024, with judgment reserved after a hearing on 26 August 2024. The matter was Criminal Motion No 41 of 2024. The applicant, Mr Pritam Singh, faces two charges under the Parliament (Privileges, Immunities and Powers) Act (Cap 217, 2000 Rev Ed) for wilfully making a false answer to questions material to the subject of inquiry put to him during examination before Parliament's Committee of Privileges. The judgment records that the applicant has been a Member of Parliament for the Aljunied Group Representation Constituency from 2011, the Secretary-General of the Workers' Party from 2018, and the Leader of the Opposition since 2020.

The catchwords identify the case as concerning criminal procedure and sentencing and the transfer of cases. Relying on s 239(1)(c) of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010 (2020 Rev Ed), the applicant applied to transfer his case from the State Courts to the General Division of the High Court on the ground that a transfer was "expedient for the ends of justice". The Prosecution objected, submitting the application was without merit. Having considered the parties' written and oral submissions, Hoo Sheau Peng J dismissed the application. The judgment referred to statutes including the Criminal Procedure Code, the Parliament (Privileges, Immunities and Powers) Act, the Penal Code and the Trustees Act. The applicant was represented by Andre Jumabhoy LLC, including Andre Darius Jumabhoy, while the Public Prosecutor was represented by the Attorney-General's Chambers, including Ang Cheng Hock.