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This article will set out some of the questions the public needs to ask and who to ask these questions to.
What Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) needs to explain
It helps, when directing our ire towards the AGC, to be aware of several of the possible charges that could have been brought against Woffles.
From reports in the Straits Times (which, unfortunately, have not been particularly clear about the precise charge that was brought), it seems that Woffles was charged with abetting the giving of "False information, with intent to cause a public servant to use his lawful power to the injury of another person" under Section 182 of the Penal Code. Under Section 182, the possible range of sentences is...
What the Judge needs to explain
While I earlier pointed out that the most important questions in this case need to be answered by AGC, it is clear that the Judge who heard Woffles’ case has some explaining to do.
Member of Parliament Hri Kumar S.C. has very sensibly said that he hopes there will be an opportunity for the Court to explain its reasons.
As the legal maxim goes, justice should not only be done, but should manifestly and undoubtedly be seen to be done.
What the Police needs to explain
Most puzzling in this entire incident is the question of why the case of Woffles took at least 6 years to come to a conclusion.
The offences took place in 2005 and 2006.
There are complex murder cases that don’t take 6 years to come to a conclusion.
To use another oft-quoted maxim, justice delayed is justice denied.
What can be done?
At the end of all this, all the explaining in the world is unlikely to satisfy a sceptical public’s distress at a set of very extraordinary circumstances.
The theme of rich vs poor is once again forming the backdrop for what promises to be a very public spectacle.
This is not ideal, as justice should be blind.
But the discharge of the public functions of the criminal law requires due regard to be paid to public conceptions of justice.
At present, one way in which AGC can show due regard to public conceptions of justice is to consider appealing the sentence.
- http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/06/asking-the-rightquestions-in-the-woffles-wu-case/
What Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) needs to explain
It helps, when directing our ire towards the AGC, to be aware of several of the possible charges that could have been brought against Woffles.
From reports in the Straits Times (which, unfortunately, have not been particularly clear about the precise charge that was brought), it seems that Woffles was charged with abetting the giving of "False information, with intent to cause a public servant to use his lawful power to the injury of another person" under Section 182 of the Penal Code. Under Section 182, the possible range of sentences is...
What the Judge needs to explain
While I earlier pointed out that the most important questions in this case need to be answered by AGC, it is clear that the Judge who heard Woffles’ case has some explaining to do.
Member of Parliament Hri Kumar S.C. has very sensibly said that he hopes there will be an opportunity for the Court to explain its reasons.
As the legal maxim goes, justice should not only be done, but should manifestly and undoubtedly be seen to be done.
What the Police needs to explain
Most puzzling in this entire incident is the question of why the case of Woffles took at least 6 years to come to a conclusion.
The offences took place in 2005 and 2006.
There are complex murder cases that don’t take 6 years to come to a conclusion.
To use another oft-quoted maxim, justice delayed is justice denied.
What can be done?
At the end of all this, all the explaining in the world is unlikely to satisfy a sceptical public’s distress at a set of very extraordinary circumstances.
The theme of rich vs poor is once again forming the backdrop for what promises to be a very public spectacle.
This is not ideal, as justice should be blind.
But the discharge of the public functions of the criminal law requires due regard to be paid to public conceptions of justice.
At present, one way in which AGC can show due regard to public conceptions of justice is to consider appealing the sentence.
- http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/06/asking-the-rightquestions-in-the-woffles-wu-case/
