Former PAP MP appointed as Deputy Attorney-General with effect from 1 March

The President has appointed Mr Hri Kumar Nair S.C. as a Deputy Attorney-General for a term of 3 years with effect from 1 March 2017.
This is the first time in the country that a politician has appointed to be on the State’s prosecutorial function.
Along with him, Mr Tan Siong Thye has also been appointed as a Judge of the High Court with effect from 1 April 2017.
Mr Nair will join the team of Deputy Attorneys-General which includes Mr Tan Siong Thye S.C. and Mr Lionel Yee S.C.
Currently, Mr Nair is a director at Drew and Napier with more than 25 years of experience as a lawyer. He was appointed Senior Counsel in 2008.
Previously, Mr Nair was also appointed a PAP Member of Parliament for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC in the 2006 General Election. He served for two terms until 2015.
He quitted politics just before the 2015 General Election. He said that he needed to relook at his priorities as his wife was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2012.
The Prime Minister Office noted that Mr Nair has acted in a wide range of litigation and arbitration matters for major international and local companies and financial institutions. He has also advised on regulatory issues and led teams to investigate fraud and other issues which have arisen in both private and listed companies.
Last year, the post of Deputy AG was created to reflect the “increasing volume and complexity of legal work of the Government”.
The Supreme Court will have a total of 18 Judges (including five Judges of Appeal and the Chief Justice), eight Judicial Commissioners, five Senior Judges and 12 International Judges with this appointment.