This is in relation to Mr Pritam Singh’s interview with the CNA programme, The Assembly, said the AGC. -- ST PHOTOS: BRIAN TEO, KUA CHEE SIONG
SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/ANN): Pritam Singh and Mediacorp were on Dec 19 issued warning letters by the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) for contempt of court over the Workers’ Party leader’s interview with CNA programme The Assembly.
Mediacorp is CNA’s parent company.
In the interview, the AGC said that Mr Singh – who is also the Leader of the Opposition – made statements about a court case in which he had been found guilty in February.
The interview was recorded in July, after Mr Singh had appealed against his conviction, the AGC noted.
Mr Singh and Mediacorp issued apologies separately on Dec 13, with the media organisation also taking down the interview after being told by the AGC that it was in contempt of court.
In the Dec 19 statement, the AGC said: “Having considered all the circumstances of the case, including the apologies, the Attorney-General has decided to issue Mr Singh and Mediacorp with warnings.
“Contempt of court impedes the proper administration of justice in Singapore. Left unchecked, such conduct can erode respect for our judicial institutions and their decisions.”
According to the AGC website, contempt of court can be classified into two broad categories: contempt by interference and contempt by disobedience.
Contempt by interference comprises a wide range of acts, including those that risk prejudicing or interfering with a court proceeding that is pending (also known as sub judice contempt).
It also includes acts that impugn the integrity or impartiality of any court and pose a risk of undermining public confidence in the administration of justice.
In the CNA programme, Mr Singh was asked about his court case, in which he was found guilty of two charges of wilfully giving false answers to a parliamentary Committee of Privileges.
The parliamentary committee was convened after then WP MP Raeesah Khan admitted to giving a false anecdote in the House. She later resigned as an MP.
In relation to his court case, Mr Singh said during the programme that he believes the court of public opinion can be bigger than any court in the world.
He also said his party’s respectable performance at the May general election showed what the public thought of his role in the saga.
Mr Singh added that his political opponents would “do whatever it takes to lower my esteem and the esteem of my party in the public eye”.
The interview was aired on CNA on Nov 5, a day after the appeal against Mr Singh’s conviction was heard, with the court reserving its judgment. The interview was accessible on platforms like YouTube and MeWatch, the AGC noted.
Mr Singh had posted about the interview on his Facebook page on Nov 6 and 8, and his appeal was later dismissed by the court on Dec 4.
The AGC said it had written to both Mr Singh and Mediacorp on Nov 28, stating that the Attorney-General was of the view that both Mr Singh’s statements and the publication of the interview were in contempt of court.
In a Facebook post on Dec 13, Mr Singh said: “I accept that my statements may be construed to be in contempt of court, including to impugn the integrity, propriety or impartiality of the court.
“Given that, I wholly and unreservedly apologise to the court and will avoid making comments to the same or similar effect in future.”
Leader of the House Indranee Rajah said on Dec 17 that Parliament will discuss “an appropriate response” to Mr Singh’s conviction when the House meets in January.
She had said in a statement that day that whatever course the WP may take on its own, it is necessary for Parliament to take notice of the Leader of the Opposition’s actions and convictions for lying under oath.
She added that lying under oath is a serious matter.
On the same day, WP posted on Facebook that the party had started its “internal processes” in the light of the Dec 4 judgment. It added that further updates on the matter will be provided in due course.
When contacted, Mediacorp said it had no further comment.
The Straits Times has contacted WP for comment. -- The Straits Times/ANN
