Govt seeks feedback on proposed major reforms to Criminal Procedure Code
SINGAPORE: Major changes are in the works for the law governing criminal investigations, court trials and appeals.
The Law and Home Affairs Ministries, together with the Attorney-General's Chambers are proposing to overhaul the Criminal Procedure Code.
They've drawn up a public consultation paper setting out the new draft code which updates current practices and makes trial procedures easier to understand.
The proposed changes include increasing the jurisdiction for the Subordinate Courts to give them greater sentencing powers for jail terms and fines. Some fines, for example, have not been changed since 1959.
Another proposed amendment includes enabling an accused person to be compensated if the prosecution against him is found to be frivolous or vexatious. In addition, the court may also order the prosecution to pay for the accused person's legal costs at trial or at appeal.
Other amendments include empowering the prosecution to compound certain offences, such as assault, mischief and nuisance and giving officers a defence to use lethal force when apprehending a terror suspect.
Moving away from relying purely on traditional punishments like fines, jail or caning, the consultation paper also invites interested parties to give feedback on formalising a range of community-based sentencing options such as short detention orders, day reporting orders and community work orders.
The authorities said this will allow for more graduated sentencing options for minor offences and still allow such offenders to be adequately punished without disruption to family life or loss of job.
The consultation paper and draft bill can be viewed at www.minlaw.gov.sg.
Members of the public can send their feedback in electronic or hardcopy form to the Law Ministry till February 5 next year. - CNA
Legal Policy Division
Ministry of Law
100 High Street #08-02
The Treasury
Singapore 179434
Fax: 6332 8842
E-mail: [email protected]
SINGAPORE: Major changes are in the works for the law governing criminal investigations, court trials and appeals.
The Law and Home Affairs Ministries, together with the Attorney-General's Chambers are proposing to overhaul the Criminal Procedure Code.
They've drawn up a public consultation paper setting out the new draft code which updates current practices and makes trial procedures easier to understand.
The proposed changes include increasing the jurisdiction for the Subordinate Courts to give them greater sentencing powers for jail terms and fines. Some fines, for example, have not been changed since 1959.
Another proposed amendment includes enabling an accused person to be compensated if the prosecution against him is found to be frivolous or vexatious. In addition, the court may also order the prosecution to pay for the accused person's legal costs at trial or at appeal.
Other amendments include empowering the prosecution to compound certain offences, such as assault, mischief and nuisance and giving officers a defence to use lethal force when apprehending a terror suspect.
Moving away from relying purely on traditional punishments like fines, jail or caning, the consultation paper also invites interested parties to give feedback on formalising a range of community-based sentencing options such as short detention orders, day reporting orders and community work orders.
The authorities said this will allow for more graduated sentencing options for minor offences and still allow such offenders to be adequately punished without disruption to family life or loss of job.
The consultation paper and draft bill can be viewed at www.minlaw.gov.sg.
Members of the public can send their feedback in electronic or hardcopy form to the Law Ministry till February 5 next year. - CNA
Legal Policy Division
Ministry of Law
100 High Street #08-02
The Treasury
Singapore 179434
Fax: 6332 8842
E-mail: [email protected]
