AGC issues warnings to Pritam Singh and Mediacorp for contempt of court over CNA interview

The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) has issued warnings to Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh and Mediacorp for contempt of court in connection with a televised interview aired during ongoing legal proceedings.

According to an official statement released by AGC on 19 December 2025, the warning letters relate to Singh’s appearance on The Assembly, a Channel NewsAsia (CNA) programme produced by Mediacorp, during which he made comments about his criminal case concerning former Workers’ Party MP Raeesah Khan.

Singh had been found guilty in February 2025 on two counts of wilfully providing false testimony to Parliament’s Committee of Privileges. He later appealed the conviction.

The interview was recorded on 26 July 2025, after the appeal had been filed. However, it aired on 5 November 2025, just one day after Singh’s appeal was heard in the High Court, with judgment then reserved. Singh subsequently promoted the interview on his social media accounts on 6 and 8 November.

The AGC determined that certain remarks made in the interview, combined with its publication during the judicial process, constituted contempt of court. A letter informing Singh and Mediacorp of this view was sent on 28 November.

Following the notification, Mediacorp removed the interview from CNA platforms on 12 December. Public apologies from both Singh and Mediacorp were published the following day, on 13 December.

The AGC acknowledged the steps taken by both parties, including the prompt removal of the interview and the issuance of unreserved apologies. After considering the full circumstances, it decided to issue warnings instead of initiating prosecution.

The AGC reiterated that contempt of court impedes the administration of justice and undermines public trust in the judiciary. It affirmed that it would continue to take a serious view of such conduct.

In his Facebook apology, Singh wrote, “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.”

Mediacorp also accepted the AGC’s assessment, stating in its apology: “We accept that the publication of the interview, which contained the statements by Mr Singh regarding the case relating to Ms Raeesah Khan, is in contempt of court. We wholly and unreservedly apologise to the court.”

The comments at the heart of the matter included Singh’s response to a question about public perception of him following his conviction. He said: “I believe the court of public opinion can be bigger than any court in the world,” and added that “politics is about public standing.”

These statements were sharply criticised by Minister for Law Edwin Tong, who described them as “outrageous, plainly wrong and completely unacceptable.” He argued that Singh’s remarks risked eroding confidence in the judiciary and promoted the idea that public approval could override legal accountability.

Singh responded to the criticism in a Facebook post on 8 November, clarifying that his comments were aimed at political dynamics following the 2024 General Election, not at the judiciary. “My remarks were not directed at the judicial system, judges or their independence, nor did it denigrate any of these institutions,” he wrote.

Singh’s original conviction in February 2025 stemmed from his role in the Workers’ Party’s handling of false statements made by Raeesah Khan in Parliament. The court found that Singh, as party leader, gave false evidence to the Committee of Privileges and failed to act promptly or transparently.

On 4 December 2025, the High Court dismissed Singh’s appeal and upheld the conviction and sentence. Justice Steven Chong ruled that Singh had not provided credible explanations for his actions and had failed to correct Khan’s falsehood in a timely manner.

Singh was fined S$14,000 for the two charges and has since paid the penalty. He has continued to serve as Leader of the Opposition.