Chief Justice says “corrective systems in place” but appeals process is not the silver bullet to an imperfect system

In his speech to mark the opening of the legal year, Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon (CJ), has said that while the quest for a sound system of justice begins with the selection of judges with the appropriate temperament, ability, and integrity and commitment to carry out their heavy responsibilities, judges are not infallible. The CJ took … Read more

EXPLAINED – The Court of Appeal’s decision to acquit Dr Wee Teong Boo

On 10 June 2020, the Court of Appeal handed down its decision in the case of Dr Wee Teong Boo. It acquitted him of all the charges against him, including that of rape, digital penetration and outrage of modesty. The Apex Court’s decision became the subject of a lot of heated and passionate discussions, which … Read more

Why 2 of the Judges Who Ruled on the Marsiling-Yew Tee By-election Case Should Not Have Done So

By International Human Rights Lawyer, M Ravi This article suggests that 2 of the Judges who ruled on the Marsiling-Yew Tee by-election case should not have done so after acting as Attorney General at separate times during the Hougang Single Member Constituency (“SMC”) by-election case in 2012 (“Hougang case”). On Wednesday 10th April 2019, a … Read more

Singapore’s Apex Court: “Powerful Probability” of Miscarriage of Justice in Death Penalty Case

By Ariffin Sha In the latest twist to what has been, under all circumstances, a most unusual case, the Court of Appeal (‘the Court’) has held that its previous decision on case involving Nigerian national Ilechukwu must be reviewed. Chao Hick Tin J, who delivered a summary of the Court Appeal’s judgement this morning, stated … Read more

The Right to Legal Representation in Death Penalty Cases: A Resolve Not to be Stifled

By M Ravi Since May 2016 and the filing of the media statements by the Attorney-General’s Chambers and the Ministry of Home Affairs, a community of lawyers have observed a steady increase in the number of discouraging comments by the judiciary towards lawyers who chose to defend their clients in certain types of cases. This … Read more