Pritpal and Chamkaur Singh: Geraldton court told prosecution case may be weaker for one of sex assault accused

The case against one of the two Perth men accused of sexually assaulting a woman on the Geraldton foreshore last month may be weaker than the other, according to a magistrate. Pritpal Singh, 34, and Chamkaur Singh, 33, who are not related but work together, are charged with one count each of aggravated sexual penetration without consent after allegedly leading a woman from the Foreshore Hangout Lounge to the beach and sexually assaulting her between 11.50pm on Friday, April 4, and 12.40am on Saturday, April 5. Pritpal Singh appeared via video link from Greenough Regional Prison for mention only in the Geraldton Magistrates Court on Monday when his newly appointed counsel put in a last-minute notice for a bail application. Magistrate Matthew Walton said he was only aware of the application “a minute before lunch” and told the defence that “given today’s court list and how long this matter may take” he would like to adjourn the bid for bail. Mr Walton addressed the fact that there was a co-accused in the matter. However, there was a “relatively clear demarcation between the strength of the prosecution’s cases”. He told the defence lawyer that “the evidence related to your client (Pritpal Singh) may be less strong.” During a previous appearance, the court was told that Chamkaur Singh allegedly tried to separate the woman from her friend while Pritpal led her to the beach. Witnesses had rushed to the nearby police station to alert officers, the court previously heard. Police prosecutor Sgt Paul Burkinshaw told the court that Pritpal Singh provided officers with a false name and date of birth and Chamkaur Singh had run from officers arriving to the scene who observed that his “fly was undone”. Pritpal Singh was remanded in custody and will appear in court again on Tuesday, May 13, for a bail application. Chamkaur Singh also appeared in court on Monday with a notice of adjournment from his lawyer. He was remanded in custody until his next appearance on Monday, May 19. If you have been a victim of sexual abuse, or if you have information about someone being abused, please contact police on 131 444, or report the information via the anonymous Safe2Say online reporting platform.