SINGAPORE \u2013 Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh\u2019s statement on the court of public opinion being a bigger court than any court in the world is outrageous, plainly wrong and completely unacceptable.<\/p>\n
Minister for Law Edwin Tong said this on Nov 8.<\/p>\n
His comments come after Mr Singh said in<\/p>\n an episode of CNA\u2019s The Assembly programme <\/p>\n <\/a>that he believes the court of public opinion can be bigger than any court in the world, when asked about his February conviction for lying under oath to a parliamentary committee. <\/p>\n Mr Singh said the WP\u2019s respectable performance at the May general election showed what the public thought of his role in the Raeesah Khan case.<\/p>\n Speaking on the sidelines of an event, Mr Tong \u2013 who is also Second Minister for Home Affairs, said: \u201cMr Singh was investigated, and then he was charged. He went through a full and open trial and was convicted by the court for lying to a parliamentary select committee.<\/p>\n \u201cThe judge gave detailed grounds setting out the basis for the conviction. I think it ran into almost 150 pages. This judgment is, today, valid and binding.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr Tong added: \u201cNo one should dismiss or denigrate the court\u2019s judgment or suggest that public opinion can somehow trump a court\u2019s decision.\u201d <\/p>\n Noting that this was a very dangerous idea, Mr Tong said the rule of law is a cornerstone of the system in Singapore, so that the country does not have a \u201crule of the mob\u201d. <\/p>\n Mr Singh was <\/p>\n fined $14,000 for the two charges<\/p>\n <\/a> of knowingly lying to Parliament\u2019s Committee of Privileges, which was below the threshold that would have disqualified him from running in the 2025 General Election.<\/p>\n Mr Singh\u2019s appeal against the conviction was heard on Nov 4 and the <\/p>\n judgment <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n has been<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n reserved for a <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n later<\/p>\n