Pritam Singh Struck Off Rolls on August 13 After Perjury Conviction

Workers’ Party chief Pritam Singh was struck off the rolls on August 13 by Singapore’s Court of Three Judges, ending his right to practise law. Singh, 50, was convicted in February 2025 of two counts of lying under oath to the Committee of Privileges over his handling of false statements made by former MP Raeesah Khan in 2021. He did not contest the disbarment and paid a $14,000 fine in December 2025 after his High Court appeal failed.

How Singh’s conviction unfolded

Raeesah Khan, then a Workers’ Party MP, told parliament in August 2021 a false anecdote about escorting a sexual abuse survivor to a police station. Singh later lied to the Committee of Privileges investigating Khan’s false statement. A district judge convicted him in February 2025 on two counts of perjury. Singh lost his appeal to the High Court in December 2025.

The Court of Three Judges’ decision

Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, Justice Kannan Ramesh and Justice See Kee Oon heard the case on August 13. The Law Society of Singapore, represented by Senior Counsel Cavinder Bull, argued Singh should be struck off based on legal precedent. Singh and the Law Society agreed that dishonesty was integral to his offences and that the high threshold to avoid striking off was not met. Chief Justice Menon said Singh’s concession was “well-advised”.

What disbarment means for Singh’s political future

Singh remains an MP for Aljunied GRC and Workers’ Party chief. Political analysts say the disbarment will have minimal impact on his standing because Singaporeans have already formed opinions after years of scrutiny. Mustafa Izzuddin, senior international affairs analyst at Solaris Strategies Singapore, said the strike-off would have “minuscule and negligible” impact. The disbarment marks the likely end of the five-year saga, with one analyst noting the importance of honesty in politics even when enforcement carries a cost in parliamentary and court time.

Can Singh return to law practice?

A disbarred lawyer can apply to the Court of Three Judges for reinstatement if the court considers them fit to practise again. However, Singapore’s courts have ruled that a lawyer shown to be dishonest will “almost invariably” be struck off. Singh is the third lawyer disbarred in 2026. In July, Steven John Lam Kuet Keng was struck off for lying to police about a drink-driving crash. In November 2025, Charles Yeo was struck off after fleeing Singapore while on bail for criminal charges.

Final Thoughts

Singh’s disbarment closes a five-year legal chapter but leaves his political role intact. Analysts expect minimal voter impact as public opinion has already crystallised. The case reinforces Singapore’s legal system’s hardline stance on dishonesty in public office.

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