Singapore's opposition leader Pritam Singh has lost his appeal against a guilty verdict of lying to a parliamentary committee.
In February, Singh was fined S$14,000 ($10,800; £8,100) for two charges related to his handling of Raeesah Khan, a former lawmaker from his party who confessed to lying to parliament.
In a short hearing to a packed court public gallery on Friday, the judge stated that Singh's conviction was supported by the evidence provided.
Singh, who leads the main opposition Workers' Party, expressed his disappointment with the decision but accepted it fully and without reservation.
He paid his fines at the courthouse after the hearing on Friday, stating, Might as well get it done, to reporters.
Despite the conviction, Singh retains his parliamentary seat, affirming his commitment to serving Singaporeans alongside his colleagues.
The Workers' Party is currently the only opposition party in Singapore's parliament, holding 12 out of 99 seats.
What to know about the case
The saga began in 2021 when Khan claimed in parliament that she had witnessed police misbehavior towards a sexual assault victim.
She later admitted that her anecdote was false, claiming during a parliamentary committee investigation that party leaders, including Singh, had advised her to continue with the narrative despite knowing the truth.
Khan has since resigned from both the party and parliament, receiving a fine of S$35,000 for lying and abusing her parliamentary privilege.
In February, the court ruled that Singh's inaction was strongly indicative of him not wanting Khan to clarify her falsehood.
Singh maintained his innocence, arguing he intended to give Khan time to address sensitive issues.
During the appeal hearing in November, Singh's attorney claimed the court ignored crucial pieces of evidence and sought to question the credibility of Khan and her aides.
While Singh's case stands out as one of the rare criminal convictions against a sitting opposition lawmaker, critics have accused the Singapore government of using the judiciary against political adversaries, a claim authorities deny.
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