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Criminal Justice Division's Online Help Centre |
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In some circumstances accused persons choose to represent themselves, or circumstances dictate that they do so. It should be noted that self-representation should not be taken lightly. A criminal case may have severe consequences. If you do not have a lawyer, you will have to prepare your case and do the legal research to represent yourself. You will have to do all the things a lawyer would do and it will not be easy.
Even if you end up representing yourself in court, it’s good to start by talking to a lawyer to help you understand the law and the procedures that might apply to your case. Ask what it would cost to hire a lawyer to handle it for you. In some instances you may be eligible to obtain free (pro bono) legal advice or representation.
In order to ensure that self-representation is undertaken with as much understanding as possible, this portion of the Subordinate Courts website is designed to connect you with information or services that will better inform you of our criminal justice process.
You can also visit our Help Centre. It contains information to help you help yourself. You can find out the different ways to find a lawyer to assist you with your case; legal materials; watch a video on the ‘Overview of court procedure in a criminal case’, et cetera.
The Help Centre does not give legal advice or make any comments on the merits of any case. Court staff can provide general information about court procedures and practices, court hearings listings, and referrals to helpful resources. Court staff cannot give legal advice, which includes advising you whether to ‘plead guilty’ or ‘not guilty’, how you should word your mitigation plea, and what you should say in court. Legal advice also includes researching the law for you, or recommending a particular lawyer.
Location
For criminal and civil proceedings, the HELP Centre is located at the ground floor of the main building of the Subordinate Courts.
For family and juvenile proceedings, the HELP Centre is located on the third floor of the Family & Juvenile Court building of the Subordinate Courts.
Opening hours
Mondays to Thursdays:
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8.30am – 12.30pm
2.00pm – 5.30pm
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Fridays:
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8.30am – 12.30pm
2.00pm – 5.00pm
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HELP Centre – Criminal Justice Division
Getting legal help
This section is intended to help you find a lawyer. Apart from talking to family and friends, you can find a lawyer by the following means:
Yellow pages
You can look in the yellow pages under “lawyers”. You can obtain a copy of the yellow pages directory from the staff of the Help Centre. You may also click here for the Internet yellow pages directory and search under “lawyers”.
Internet yellow pages: yellow pages.
Law Society
The Law Society maintains a list of lawyers. The Law Society is located at:
39 South Bridge Road
Singapore 058673
Tel: 6538 2500 (General Inquiries)
Fax: 6533 5700
Business hours: Monday – Friday: 9am – 5.45pm.
Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays
You can also refer to the directory at the Law Society’s website.
Please click here for the directory: Law Society’s directory.
Pro Bono services
If you cannot afford to pay for a lawyer, you can consider approaching the Pro Bono Office of the Law Society. You will need to complete a form and give details about your financial situation, such as your income, property, expenses, and other financial information. An assessment will be made as to whether you will be eligible for legal aid.
The Pro Bono Office is located at the 5th level (beside court number 5) of the Subordinate Courts building at 1 Havelock Square.
For more information, you can refer to the website of the Law Society. You may click here to access the relevant information: Pro Bono, Learning and Support Services.
Resources for legal research
If you are defending yourself, you will need to be familiar with the laws governing court procedure and which relate to your case. You may need to be familiar with relevant statutes and case law.
The following commentary in the Singapore Academy of Law’s website gives an overview of the Singapore legal system. Please click here: The Singapore Legal System.
Law Resources on the Web
For resources on law available on the Internet, you may wish to visit the websites of the CJ Koh Library Index to Legal Resources (www.lib.nus.edu.sg) or the SMU Li Ka Shing library at (http://library.smu.edu.sg/).
Case law database
You can access Singapore’s reported and unreported court judgments at LawNet - Legal Workbench (Singapore). In order to access, you will need to be a subscriber and login using your userid and password.
Statutes
Statutes are laws enacted by Parliament. Statutes which relate to criminal matters and court proceedings include the following:
· Constitution of the Republic of Singapore
· Criminal Procedure Code (Cap 68)
· Employment of Foreign Manpower Act (Cap 91A)
· Evidence Act (Cap 97)
· Immigration Act (Cap 133)
· Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act (Cap 184)
· Misuse of Drugs Act (Cap 185)
· Penal Code (Cap 224)
· Prevention of Corruption Act (Cap 241)
· Road Traffic Act (Cap 276)
· Subordinate Courts Act (Cap 321)
These and other statutes are publicly available online on the Attorney-General’s Chambers website. Please click here to access all the Acts of Singapore: Singapore Statutes Online.
Law libraries
Law libraries have print and online resources including statutes, regulations, court judgments reported in the law reports, and text books about specific areas of law. Most law text books are written for legal professionals, but some books are written for non-lawyers.
You may want to consult the legal resources available at the public libraries of the National Library Board.
Textbooks available at Help Centre
The following textbooks are available at the Help Centre. Please note that you cannot take these books out of the Help Centre.
1. Sentencing Practice in the Subordinate Courts (Practitioners’ Library series)
2. Sentencing Principles in Singapore by Kow Keng Siong (Law Practice Series)
3. Criminal law in Singapore and Malaysia by Stanley Yeo, Neil Morgan and Chan Wing Cheong (Singapore: LexisNexis 2007)
4. Ratanlal & Dhirajlal on Law of Crimes Volume 1, 2 (24th Edition)
5. Criminal Procedure Volume 1,2 and 3 by Tan Yock Lin
6. Evidence, Advocacy & Litigation Process by Jeffrey Pinsler (2nd Edition)
7. Evidence in Criminal Trials (Practitioners’ Library series)
Frequently asked questions
This section of the website provides answers to many frequently asked questions concerning the criminal justice system of the Subordinate Courts. Please note that this material is not a substitute for legal advice.
Application for court records FAQs
Bail FAQs
Permission to travel whilst on bail FAQs
Cancellation of a warrant of arrest FAQs
Change of court day(s) / Application for adjournment FAQs
Community Court FAQs
Coroner’s Court FAQs
Court procedure in criminal cases FAQs
Dispensation of personal court attendance FAQs
Legal Counsel FAQs
Magistrate’s Complaints FAQs
Criminal Mentions Courts FAQs
Night Courts FAQs
Notice of Appeal FAQs
Plead guilty process FAQs
Statutory declarations FAQs
Traffic cases FAQs
Application for court records FAQs
I would like to get a copy of court documents. How do I apply for it?
How do I get Form 59? Must I go down personally?
How may I submit the application?
When will I get the documents applied for? Do I have to collect it personally or could I have it couriered?
How much do I have to pay?
What payment methods do you accept and where do I make payment?
What information must I provide in Form 59 for the document(s) requested?
Can I appeal if the request is not approved?
Who can I contact to find out the status?
I would like to get a copy of court documents. How do I apply for it?
You would need to fill up an application form; Form 59, and submit it to the Crime Registry. The Registry is located at the ground floor. Please turn right from the entrance of the Subordinate Courts.
How do I get Form 59? Must I go down personally?
You can collect a copy from the counters of the Registry or the Help Centre. An electronic copy of the form is available on the Subordinate Courts website.
(http://app.subcourts.gov.sg/Data/Files/File/HELP_CrimeDiv/Form 59 (New form w.e.f. Feb 07).pdf)
How may I submit the application?
You can submit your application by post or fax it to the Registry via fax number: 64355122.
When will I get the documents applied for? Do I have to collect it personally or could I have it couriered?
You will receive a letter informing you that the document(s) is ready for collection. The documents have to be collected personally at the Registry. Please bring along the letter when you come to collect the document(s).
How much do I have to pay?
The cost is $5.00 per document or 30 cents per page. The letter informing you that the document is ready for collection will also state the amount to be paid.
What payment methods do you accept and where do I make payment?
Payment by cash, cash card, NETS or cheque may be accepted but this depends on the amount of payment required. At the moment, cash card and NETS are the two means of electronic payments which are accepted.
Please proceed to the Finance Section at the ground floor to make the payment. You must show the receipt of payment before you can collect the document(s) from the Registry.
What information must I provide in Form 59 for the document(s) requested?
Please include the following information:
· Applicant’s name, address and telephone number.
· Document(s) requested.
· Details of the case - name of parties, case number, the date(s) the case was heard, where the case was heard.
· Reason(s) why the document(s) is required.
Can I appeal if the request is not approved?
You may re-apply for the document(s) stating your reasons in full why you require the document(s). Your application will be reviewed.
Who can I contact to find out the status?
You can speak to the personnel at the Registry at 64355897.
Bail FAQs
What is Bail?
Who can grant bail?
When can an accused be released on bail?
Who can stand as surety?
What are the operation hours of the Bail Centre?
How is the amount of bail decided?
What are the steps involved in the processing of the bail bond?
What happens during the execution of the bail bond?
Are there conditions attached to bail?
What are the consequences of breaching bail?
How do I obtain a refund of my bail?
Can I discharge myself as a surety?
When may a statutory declaration be required?
How do I make a statutory declaration?
What is the effect of a statutory declaration?
What is Bail?
An accused is on bail when he is released from the custody of law enforcement officers and entrusted to the custody of a surety or sureties who are bound to produce him when required to do so.
The surety or sureties who procure the release of the accused become responsible for his appearance when required at the stipulated time and place. The responsibility of a surety to ensure the attendance of the accused in court is a very serious one.
Security for bail may be furnished either in the form of a cash deposit with the court or property (collateral) pledged as guarantee for the amount of the bail sum. The person who provides this security is called a surety or a bailor.
Who can grant bail?
The Court, a police officer who is not below the rank of sergeant and other law enforcement officers are empowered to grant bail.
When can an accused be released on bail?
An accused may be offered police bail after his arrest and before he is charged in Court. Once the accused is formally charged in Court and until the case is concluded, the police bail granted may be extended or fresh bail may be offered at the first mention by the Court.
Once bail is granted, the accused would be remanded until the bail bond is executed. If the bail offered is not processed within the same day, the accused would be remanded (imprisoned) until his next appearance in Court unless someone agrees to stand bail for him.
If a person agrees to be the bailor, he would have to go to the Bail Centre during its processing hours. The accused would be released from remand once the bail is furnished.
Who can stand as surety?
Anyone who is above 21 years old, is not a bankrupt, does not have any pending criminal proceedings against him or her. The suitability to be a surety is subject to the discretion of the court.
What are the operation hours of the Bail Centre?
The Bail Centre is located in the Crime Registry. The bail processing hours are:
9.00 am - 5.00pm (Mondays to Thursdays)
9.00 am - 4.30 pm (Fridays)
9.00 am - 12.00 pm (Saturdays)
Tel: 64355928/ 64355929
How is the amount of bail decided?
The amount of bail is at the Court's discretion. When bail is offered by the Court, the Prosecuting Officer may suggest an amount for the bail sum. If the accused or his counsel is of the view that the amount is too high, he may make a counter-proposal. The Court may proceed to hear arguments from both sides before determining the amount.
Some relevant factors considered by the Court are:
· the nature and gravity of the offence(s) charged
· the severity and degree of punishment which the conviction may entail
· the character, means and standing of the accused
· whether the accused is a first offender or has a previous conviction, etc.
What are the steps involved in the processing of the bail bond?
Where the bail sum does not exceed $15,000, personal property items may be used as proof of their worth. Examples include jewellery or household items, which must be fully paid up and belong to the surety.
Where the bail sum is greater than $15,000, the surety is required to provide cash or cash equivalents such as fixed deposits or savings accounts as security for bail.
What happens during the execution of the bail bond?
The responsibilities of the surety and the consequences of breaching the conditions of bail will be explained by an interpreter to the surety. They will also be informed of the next mention or trial date. Following that, the surety will be brought before a Magistrate to acknowledge the bail bond. The Magistrate would ascertain from the surety whether he is aware of the mention or trial date and whether he is aware of his duties as a surety. Following that, the accused would be released on bail.
Are there conditions attached to bail?
Yes, conditions may be attached. The usual condition is that the accused person shall not leave Singapore until he has obtained the court’s permission to do so, or if he is on police bail, the police officer's approval. The surety must also consent if there is an application by the accused to go overseas.
Where the accused person is a foreigner, the Court will require that the surety must be a Singaporean and that the accused person surrenders his passport.
What are the consequences of breaching bail?
If an accused fails to appear in Court on the stipulated date and time, the Court will issue a Warrant of Arrest against him. A notice to show cause will also be issued to the surety to enable him to explain to the Court on a specified date as to why he should not be ordered to pay the bail amount forfeited by the Court.
If the forfeited sum is not paid, the Court may proceed to recover the sum by issuing a warrant for the attachment and sale of the property belonging to the surety. If the forfeited sum cannot be recovered by such attachment and sale, the surety is liable to imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months.
How do I obtain a refund of my bail?
The security provided by the surety and retained by the Court would be released or refunded to the surety upon the conclusion of a case.
If collateral such as a savings passbook or fixed deposit slip was used for purpose of bail, it can be collected from the Finance section which is located at the ground floor of the Havelock Square Complex. Before proceeding to the Finance Section, the surety must first obtain a release letter from the officer of the Court (where the case was concluded) authorising the Finance Section to release the collateral. If cash was used for purposes of bail, the bail sum would be directly refunded to the surety by the Accountant-General by way of crediting directly into the surety's bank account which was furnished by the surety at the point of standing bail, within 21 working days.
Can I discharge myself as a surety?
The surety may at any time apply to be discharged from his responsibilities if he no longer wishes to stand as surety. The application may be made in court when the matter is next mentioned. A surety may also make a written application to the Court for the matter to be fixed for mention to enable him to make the necessary application. He must bring the accused to court on the mention date given. Upon the discharge of the surety, the accused would be remanded until another surety is found.
When may a statutory declaration be required?
Where an accused is required to surrender his passport as a condition of bail but he is unable to produce his passport, he may be asked to make a statutory declaration stating the reasons for his inability to produce his passport.
How do I make a statutory declaration?
A statutory declaration has to be in a prescribed form as provided in the First Schedule to the Oaths and Declarations Act (Chapter 211). The form is available on request at the Bail Centre. The statutory declaration is to be made before a Commissioner of Oaths at the Bail Centre.
What is the effect of a statutory declaration?
It is a criminal offence to make a false statement in a statutory declaration, where one knows or has reason to believe the statement is false or does not believe it to be true. Where the person has made the false statement in a statutory declaration for use in any stage of a judicial proceeding, he shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 7 years and shall also be liable to a fine.
Permission to travel whilst on bail FAQs
How do I apply for permission to leave the country?
How do I apply for permission to leave the country?
Step 1: Applying for permission to leave the country
An accused person who is on bail has to apply for the Court's permission to leave Singapore.
You can do so by making a formal application in writing or by filling in the standard application form available at the Crime Registry. (You may also click here for the form.) The application must state clearly your particulars, the mention/PTC/trial date(s), the court at which the matter is fixed, the duration of trip, the destination, and the purpose of the trip.
The application must be addressed and mailed to: The Registrar, Subordinate Courts, 1 Havelock Square, Singapore 059724. Alternatively the application may be faxed to 64355122.
Step 2: Court considers the application
Once the application is made, it will be referred to the relevant judge for his or her consideration.
Step 3: Notification to accused
If the judge agrees to hear the application, you will be notified in writing of the date and time for mention in court.
If the application is not approved, you will also be notified in writing that you are not allowed to leave Singapore.
Step 4: Case is mentioned in Court
On the date of the mention in court, you and the surety must be present and you must state the reason(s) for your application. You must inform the court of your intended destination(s) as well as your expected departure and return dates. The surety must also give his or her consent before the court considers the application.
The prosecution will have the opportunity to state its position on the application.
After hearing both sides, the court may either refuse permission or grant it subject to certain conditions. If the application is approved, the relevant endorsement will be made.
Cancellation of a warrant of arrest FAQs
How do I apply for the cancellation of a warrant of arrest?
What documents do I need to provide for my application for cancellation?
How do I know if my application for cancellation of the Warrant of Arrest is approved?
How do I apply for the cancellation of a warrant of arrest?
An application for the cancellation of a warrant of arrest may be made if you had a valid reason for your absence from court and provided that the warrant of arrest has not been executed by the police.
The application can be made by either completing a standard application form (click here for the form) available at the Crime Registry or the Help Centre, or by a letter addressed to the Registrar of the Subordinate Courts providing details of your case, such as the case number, court number, and the date on which you were absent and stating the reason(s) for your absence.
Please note that whether the application is granted or not is at the Court’s discretion.
What documents do I need to provide for my application for cancellation?
The application should be supported by valid documents relevant to the reason(s) for your absence. For example, if you were sick, a medical certificate will be needed to support your application.
Please note a medical certificate will not be accepted unless:
a) it contains the name of the medical practitioner who issued the certificate;
b) it states the name of the hospital/clinic in which he practices;
c) it indicates that the person to whom the certificate is issued is unable to attend Court;
d) it specifies the date(s) on which he is unfit to attend Court;
e) it is signed in full by the medical practitioner and must not be merely initialled;
f) it is authenticated by a rubber stamp showing the medical practitioner's full name and designation in the hospital or clinic.
If you were serving sentence on the date you were absent, you would be required to produce a memorandum from the Prisons stating the period during which you were serving your sentence.
How do I know if my application for cancellation of the Warrant of Arrest is approved?
If your application is approved, a new hearing date will be scheduled for you to appear in court and you will be notified in writing.
If your application is not approved, you will be notified in writing and you will be asked to surrender either to the relevant prosecuting agency or to the Warrant Enforcement Unit at the Police Cantonment Complex for the warrant to be executed by the police.
The Judge may also direct the matter to be fixed for mention and for the application to be dealt with in open court. You will be notified in writing of the mention date. On the mention date, you will be asked by the judge for the reason(s) why you were absent. The judge will make a decision on whether to allow your application after hearing your explanation. You should bring all relevant document(s) in support of your application.
Change of court day(s) / Application for adjournment FAQs
Can I ask for a change of mention/ptc/trial dates?
How do I apply to for a change of the court date?
How would I know if my application is approved?
Can I ask for a change of mention/ptc/trial dates?
You should apply for a change of a mention date or a trial date(s) only if you have very good reason(s) to support why you are unable to attend court on the given date(s). If you have an appointment that clashes with the Court date(s), you must reschedule that appointment unless you can give good reason(s) why you cannot do so. You should note that an application for an adjournment of a trial date(s) is granted only in very exceptional circumstances.
Please note that whether your application will be granted or not is at the discretion of the Court.
How do I apply to for a change of the court date?
If you have received a notice or summons to attend Court on a particular date and you are unable to attend on the first court mention date, you should contact the relevant prosecuting agency as soon as possible to request for a change of the court date. Whether your request will be acceded to or not would be decided by the prosecuting agency.
If this is not your first court mention and your case has been mentioned in court previously or trial date(s) have been given, you can do so by completing the standard application form (click here for the form), or by a formal application in writing, or appear in person to make the application.
The application in writing must state the date(s) of the case and the court at which it is fixed, your personal particulars, contact particulars and full reason(s) for your application. If you have any document(s) to support you reason(s), a copy should be enclosed. The application should be addressed to The Registrar, Subordinate Courts, 1 Havelock Square, Singapore 059724 or faxed to 64355122.
Once the application is made, it will be referred to the relevant judge for his or her consideration.
How would I know if my application is approved?
If the application is approved, you will be notified in writing by the court or the prosecuting agency of the new mention date and time.
If you application is not approved, you will also be notified in writing by the court and you will be required to attend court on the original mention/trial date. If you fail to do so, a warrant of arrest may be issued against you.
Community Court FAQs
What is the Community Court?
What are the types of cases that are dealt with by the Community Court?
Can I request for my case to be heard in the Community Court?
What is a CCC (Community Court Conference)?
What happens if the accused apologises to the victim for the commission of the offence (for e.g., causing hurt), can the victim apply to withdraw the charge against the accused?
Who assists the Community Court judge in making referrals to the relevant community agencies?
Which are the community agencies that work closely with the Community Court offering link-up services?
Is there any advantage for my case to be heard in the Community Court?
What is the Community Court?
The Community Court seeks to achieve the same goals as any other criminal courts, namely, to prevent and reduce the incidence of crimes and to ensure that accused persons are dealt with fairly, justly and appropriately.
The Community Court also looks into the rehabilitation prospects of the accused person, in exploring sentencing alternatives and community based sanctions where possible, in order to address the underlying causes of criminality.
The Community Court has a clear emphasis in ensuring that offenders receive the appropriate programmes and sentences that will help to curb future criminal behaviour.
What are the types of cases that are dealt with by the Community Court?
The categories of cases that are heard in the Community Court are as follows:
a) youthful offenders (aged 16 to 18 years);
b) those below 21 years accused of theft, violence, sexual crimes, gambling or drug related charges excluding cases which involve multiple accused persons, especially for offences of unlawful assembly, rioting and robbery, who are claiming trial;
c) selected offenders with mental disorders;
d) attempted suicide cases;
e) family violence cases;
f) abuse and cruelty to animals;
g) cases which impact on race relations issues;
h) selected cases involving accused persons who are 65 years of age and above;
i) selected cases involving accused with chronic addiction problems; and
j) shop theft cases.
Can I request for my case to be heard in the Community Court?
Yes, provided it falls under any of the category of cases heard by the Community Court (see question above).
What is a CCC (Community Court Conference)?
It is convened by the judge and would typically include the accused, his family, defence counsel, the investigating officer, the victim or relevant community agency or stakeholder (where applicable), to explore any or all of the following:
a) mediation between the victim and the accused (especially in the context of a domestic or relational dispute);
b) the underlying causes of the accused’s repeated offending behaviour;
c) the appropriate treatment plan for the accused; and
d) the co-operation from the accused’s family on his/her rehabilitative needs in order to prevent future re-offending behaviour.
What happens if the accused apologises to the victim for the commission of the offence (for e.g., causing hurt)? Can the victim apply to withdraw the charge against the accused?
No. The prerogative to proceed with or withdraw a charge against an accused lies with the prosecution. However, if there are good mitigating factors, for example, where an apology has been extended (especially in a domestic or relational dispute), compensation from the accused, or an undertaking from the accused to either seek treatment (which may have contributed to his offending behaviour), or to attend counselling, the accused may apply to the court to adjourn the matter for the purposes of forwarding written representations to the Attorney-General’s Chambers to either reduce or withdraw the charge.
Who assists the Community Court judge in making referrals to the relevant community agencies?
The Community Court Secretariat which consists of a team including a clinical psychologist, case manager and social worker, who assist in the assessment, referral, management and co-ordination of the cases with the relevant community agencies, which offer relevant counselling and offence-specific programmes for the accused persons.
Which are the community agencies that work closely with the Community Court offering link-up services?
Please see brochure of the Community Court under “Community Resources”.
Is there any advantage for my case to be heard in the Community Court?
The Community Court seeks to achieve the same goals as any other criminal court, but it is additionally committed to undertake a non-traditional approach to dealing with offenders by exploring sentencing alternatives and community based sanctions with inputs from criminal justice agencies, social service providers and criminal justice professionals to promote rehabilitation and address the underlying causes of criminality.
Coroner’s Court FAQs
What is the Coroner’s Court?
Who is the Coroner and what are his duties?
When will a death be made a coroner’s case?
How can I find out about the status of the Coroner’s investigation?
What should I do when my next-of-kin dies?
What should I do when I witness a sudden or unnatural death or finds a dead body?
What happens at the Coroner’s inquiry?
What happens when my next-of-kin is made a coroner’s case?
What is an autopsy?
Why is an autopsy required?
Can the Next-Of-Kin request for a copy of the autopsy report?
Can I appeal against the decision to conduct an autopsy?
When will there be a coroner’s inquiry?
Can I choose not to attend the Inquiry?
If I cannot attend the Coroner Inquiry, can I request for it to be postponed?
As the Next-Of-Kin, should I be represented by a lawyer at the Coroner’s Inquiry?
What if I am named as a witness to the death of the deceased?
What if I am named as a “Potential Defendant”?
How do I locate the Coroner’s Court?
What is the Coroner’s Court?
The Coroner’s Court holds inquiries when there is reason to suspect that a person has died:
· in sudden or unnatural manner;
· by violence;
· when the cause of death is unknown and in situations where the law requires an inquiry.
Who is the Coroner and what are his duties?
The Coroner is a District Judge of the Subordinate Courts. With the help of the Police, the Coroner will conduct investigations into the circumstances in which the deceased died.
When will a death be made a coroner’s case?
Cases in which death is sudden or is suspected to be by unnatural means will be classified by the Police as Coroner's cases. Examples of these cases are suspected suicide, road traffic and industrial accidents, and death of an inmate in prison. Where death appears peaceful but the cause of death is not known, the Police will also classify the case as a Coroner’s case.
How can I find out about the status of the Coroner’s investigation?
You can contact the Investigation Officer of the Police Division concerned to enquire about status of the investigation.
What should I do when my next-of-kin dies?
If your next-of-kin dies at home
You should inform the police. The Police will then visit your home and conduct investigations to decide whether the case should be referred to the Coroner.
If the death appears peaceful and if the deceased has been receiving medical treatment from a doctor, you may ask the doctor to visit your home. If the doctor is satisfied that the deceased had died from a natural cause, he may sign a death certificate for the deceased.
If your next-of-kin dies in hospital
If the deceased has been ill and has been receiving medical treatment from a hospital, the doctors at the hospital may sign a death certificate for the deceased if they are satisfied that the cause of death is natural.
However, if the doctors are not satisfied that the cause of death is natural, or if they are unable to determine the cause of death, they will refer to the case to the Coroner.
What should I do when I witness a sudden or unnatural death or finds a dead body?
You should report the incident to the Police immediately. You should also not remove the body before the arrival of the Police.
What happens at the Coroner’s inquiry?
Mentions will be conducted before the actual Coroner’s Inquiry in every case. Where necessary, Pre-Inquiry Conferences are also held where the Coroner will speak to the Next-of-Kin and other involved parties to arrive at a better understanding of the circumstances surrounding the death of the deceased in preparation for the Coroner's Inquiry. During the Coroners' Inquiry, the Coroner will listen to the evidence of witnesses. At the end of the inquiry, he will record a verdict.
Common verdicts are:
· Suicide: A suicide verdict is recorded when the Coroner is satisfied that the deceased intended to and did take his/her own life.
· Misadventure: A misadventure verdict is recorded when the death resulted from an accident caused by the deceased's own fault or by events beyond human control.
· Open Verdict: An open verdict is recorded if the circumstances in which death occurred are not clear.
Other than the above common verdicts, the Coroner may record a verdict of Death Due to Negligent Act of a Potential Defendant or Murder by person/persons unknown in some cases.
What happens when my next-of-kin is made a coroner’s case?
The deceased's body will be brought to the Mortuary at HSA, Centre for Forensic Medicine at Outram Road, Singapore 169608.
The Police will inform you when you are to be present at the mortuary to identify your Next-of-Kin's body to the Coroner. The Coroner will then decide whether an autopsy should be performed on the deceased. If no autopsy is to be performed, you can claim the deceased's body. If an autopsy is to be carried out, you will be informed by the Police when you can claim the deceased's body.
What is an autopsy?
An autopsy or a post-mortem examination is an operation which is conducted by a forensic pathologist. Its purpose is to enable the Coroner to find out the cause of death.
Why is an autopsy required?
An autopsy is required so as to assist the Coroner in determining an accurate finding as to the medical cause of death. For more details relating to the work of the Forensic Pathologist, please visit http://www.hsa.gov.sg.
Can the Next-Of-Kin request for a copy of the autopsy report?
The Next-Of-Kin will be informed of the cause of the death in the death certificate. However, if the Next-Of-Kin wishes to obtain a copy of the autopsy report, they can enquire at the Mortuary at the Health Sciences Authority.
Can I appeal against the decision to conduct an autopsy?
No. The Coroner’s decision is final. He makes that decision carefully and based on all evidence presented to him, including evidence presented by the deceased's family.
In cases where death appears peaceful but the cause of death is not known, you should inform the Police if the deceased has been suffering from any illness, and if so, the particulars of the doctor(s) which the deceased has consulted. The Police will bring this to the attention of the Coroner to assist him in making his decision.
When will there be a coroner’s inquiry?
Where the death had resulted from a natural disease condition, it is usually not necessary to hold an Inquiry. However, if the death had been the result of an unnatural cause or circumstances, an Inquiry would likely be held.
The Police will inform you of the date and time of the Coroner’s Inquiry. As the Next-Of-Kin of the deceased, you may attend the inquiry.
Can I choose not to attend the Inquiry?
It is not mandatory for the Next-Of-Kin to be present at the Inquiry.
If I cannot attend the Coroner Inquiry, can I request for it to be postponed?
You may bring up the request to the Investigating Officer who will make an application to Court. The State Coroner will then decide based on the reason(s) provided. The outcome will be made known to you by the Investigating Officer.
As the Next-Of-Kin, should I be represented by a lawyer at the Coroner’s Inquiry?
It is up to you to decide if you want to engage the services of a lawyer to seek legal advice, assistance or representation for the Coroner’s Inquiry.
What if I am named as a witness to the death of the deceased?
You will be summoned to Court as a witness to give evidence. The conditioned statement that you have provided earlier to the Police as well as your oral testimony given in Court will be taken down and recorded as evidence. You will be duty-bound to truthfully provide all the facts that you know leading to the death of the deceased.
What if I am named as a “Potential Defendant”?
Where one or more persons is directly or indirectly responsible for causing the death of the deceased, the State may at any time name one or more persons as Potential Defendant(s) at the Coroner’s Inquiry before the verdict of the court is given.
As a Potential Defendant, it is possible that the court may rule that the death of the deceased was “Death due to the negligent act of the potential defendant(s)”.
The Potential Defendant may engage a counsel of his choice to hold a watching brief.
The Potential Defendant is given the opportunity to cross-examine each witness produced against him, including the medical doctor who made a post-mortem examination of the deceased, as well as to produce witnesses in his defence.
After the evidence has been presented on behalf of the State, a caution under section 290 of the Criminal Procedure Code (Cap 68) is administered to the Potential Defendant. He can choose to give evidence or remain silent. If he elects to give evidence, the evidence will be given under oath or affirmation and recorded. He may be questioned by the officer appearing on behalf of the State. The potential defendant can call witnesses if he elects to give evidence or remain silent.
After all the evidence is recorded, the Coroner delivers his findings and verdict based on the evidence.
How do I locate the Coroner’s Court?
The Coroner’s Court is located at:
Subordinate Courts Building
Court 22, Level 3
No 1 Havelock Square
Singapore 059724
Operating Hours:
9.30am – 1.00pm
2.30pm – 5.30pm
Court procedure in criminal cases FAQs
What are the stages in a criminal trial?
What happens at the pre-trial stage?
What can I do at the pre-trial conference? What happens at the pre-trial conference?
What steps do I need to take to prepare for the trial?
What happens during the criminal trial?
How do I defend myself?
What happens when I choose to give evidence?
What happens after the conclusion of the trial?
What can I do if I am not satisfied with the court’s decision?
What are the stages in a criminal trial?
There are broadly three stages in a criminal trial, namely, the pre-trial, trial and post-trial stage.
What happens at the pre-trial stage?
At the pre-trial stage at the Mentions Court, you will either indicate that you wish to admit or dispute the charge(s) against you.
You admit to a charge(s) by pleading guilty, which means that you admit to having committed the offence stated in the charge(s).
On the other hand, you plead not guilty (i.e. claim trial) when you dispute the charge(s). A pre-trial conference (‘PTC’) would be fixed if you claim trial. The purpose of the pre-trial conference is to update the judge on the progress of the case and to determine if your case is ready to proceed for a trial.
What can I do at the pre-trial conference? What happens at the pre-trial conference?
You should indicate to the judge if you wish to make written representations to the Attorney-General’s Chambers to review the charge(s) against you. This is for the purpose of withdrawing or reducing the nature and/or number of charge(s) you are facing.
The prosecutor would inform the judge the nature of the evidence against you and the witnesses he is calling for the trial.
Similarly, you should inform the judge if you wish to call any witnesses at the trial. If you intend to call witnesses to prove that you were not at the scene of the crime but somewhere else (i.e. raise a defence of alibi), you must inform the court and give particulars of the witnesses within 14 days from the time your case was first mentioned in court (i.e. the mentions court).
If the prosecution is agreeable, you should request for an exchange of documents with the prosecution, which are to be relied on for the hearing. This includes the statements that you have given to the police.
What steps do I need to take to prepare for the trial?
You need to ensure that all your witnesses attend court for the trial. The witnesses may be summoned to do so by way of a summons served on them. This can be obtained from the Criminal Justice Division’s Registry for a fee payment of $1.
The summons would be issued and served on the witness by the court process server. However, this would not be necessary if you are very certain that your witnesses are willing to be present in court.
You should ensure that the evidence you are relying on at the trial is available. If you are relying on documentary evidence, please make at least three copies of each document. The original document would be submitted to the court, while the remaining copies are for the prosecution, the witness and yourself. You should make sure that the author or maker of the document is available as a witness if the prosecution requires him or her to give evidence.
What happens during the criminal trial?
The prosecution would first present its evidence by calling its witnesses and producing exhibits to support/prove the charge(s) against you.
At the first stage known as ‘examination-in-chief’, the prosecutor would ask first questions of its witnesses. After this stage, you are entitled to ask the same witness questions. This is known as ‘cross-examination’. During cross-examination, you can challenge and contradict the evidence of the prosecution witness with the use of documentary evidence, if any. You should also put forth your version of the events to the witness and ask him or her if he or she agrees with it. At the end of the cross-examination, the prosecutor would be allowed to ask further questions of the witness for the purpose of clarifying the witness’ answers given in cross-examination. This process is called ‘re-examination’.
How do I defend myself?
When the court decides that the prosecution has shown sufficient evidence in respect of the charge(s) against you, you have two options. First, you can choose to give evidence and call witnesses in your defence. Alternatively, you may choose to remain silent. However, if you opt for the option of remaining silent, the court may draw the necessary inferences, some of which may be against you.
What happens when I choose to give evidence?
You would testify from the witness stand on oath or affirmation. After you have given your account of the events, the prosecutor would be allowed to cross-examine you by asking you questions. You would be the first person to testify. Following you, you may call your other witnesses to the witness stand. Similarly, they would be given an opportunity to answer your questions first before being cross-examined by the prosecutor. You may then re-examine the witness.
What happens after the conclusion of the trial?
Both the prosecution and you would be allowed to summarise the evidence and make arguments on the credibility of the witnesses, in order to persuade the court to accept your respective version of the events. This is known as making closing submissions.
Thereafter, the court would deliver its decision, i.e. verdict, which would pronounce if you are guilty of the charge(s) (conviction) or not guilty (acquittal).
In the event that you are found guilty on the charge(s), the court would convict and sentence you. The court will give you an opportunity to present your mitigation before passing sentence.
What can I do if I am not satisfied with the court’s decision?
If you were convicted after a trial, you can file an appeal against the court’s decision on conviction or sentence, as well as both conviction and sentence. If you have pleaded guilty, you can only appeal against the sentence.
The appeal must be filed at the Criminal Justice Division’s Registry within 10 calendar days from the date on which the verdict was pronounced.
Dispensation of personal court attendance FAQs
Is personal attendance at court compulsory?
In what circumstance can I be excused from attending court?
How do I apply for my court attendance to be dispensed with?
Do I still have to attend court if I have compounded by offences?
Do I still have to attend Court if I fall sick?
Is personal attendance at court compulsory?
Court attendance is generally compulsory in all cases if your personal attendance has not been dispensed with.
If an accused person fails to attend court on the date and time as required, a warrant of arrest is issued against him for his arrest to be effected. However, if you had a valid reason for your absence, for example, you were on medical leave, you were remanded or were serving sentence for another offence(s) on the Court date, you should apply to Court for a cancellation of the warrant of arrest. Please refer to FAQs on “Cancellation of a Warrant of Arrest” for more information.
If the accused was on bail when he failed to attend, his surety/bailor will be summoned to Court to pay the bail sum forfeited or to show cause, that is, to explain why the bail money should not be forfeited.
For certain offences prosecuted by the Land Transport Authority, Traffic Police, Housing and Development Board, the Urban Redevelopment Authority, etc. when the warrant of arrest is executed, that is, the accused is arrested and brought before the Court, he may be asked to explain his absence in Court. The Court will impose a fine if no satisfactory reason is given for the absence.
In what circumstance can I be excused from attending court?
If an offence is punishable by fine or by imprisonment not exceeding three months or by both, and if a summons has been issued and you wish to plead guilty, you may engage a lawyer to appear on your behalf, or may by letter addressed to the court plead guilty and agree to pay any fine imposed by the court for the offence. However, if the court finds an imprisonment sentence is appropriate, then you would not be sentenced in your absence but would be required to attend court.
In addition, the Court may excuse an accused from attending court if he has been informed by the prosecutor that the charge(s) will be withdrawn because he has settled by paying the composition fine(s).
How do I apply for my court attendance to be dispensed with?
You may either write in to the Subordinate Courts or make the application in person.
For Night Court cases, you must make the application before the Duty Magistrate at the Crime Registry, whilst for other criminal cases you must make the application to the designated Court.
Please note that the application must be made well in advance before the next court date. In support of your application, you must state the reason(s) with supporting documents.
It is important to remember that if you have applied in writing, unless you have obtained a written confirmation that your court attendance is dispensed with, you must still attend Court on the appointed date.
Do I still have to attend court if I have compounded by offences?
You may apply for dispensation of your court attendance (excused from attending court) if you have already settled or compounded all outstanding cases against you.
You can do so by completing the standard Application form (click here for the form). This application must be supported by proof of payments or receipts from the relevant prosecuting agencies. The completed form or the application should be submitted to the relevant prosecuting agency.
Upon receipt, the Agency will consider the application. If consent is given, you will be notified and will not need to attend court on the specified date.
If no consent is given, you will be notified and will be required to attend court on the specified date. Failure to do so will result in a warrant of arrest being issued against you.
Do I still have to attend Court if I fall sick?
In order to be excused from court attendance, a doctor must certify you as being unfit for court attendance. You will then need to ask someone to produce a medical certificate from the doctor in court on your behalf.
A medical certificate will not be accepted unless:
a) it contains the name of the medical practitioner who issued the certificate;
b) it states the name of the hospital/clinic in which he practices;
c) it indicates that the person to whom the certificate is issued is unable to attend Court i.e. it has been endorsed that it is valid for absence from Court proceedings and specify the date(s) on which he is unfit to attend Court;
d) it is signed in full by the medical practitioner and must not be merely initialled;
e) it is authenticated by a rubber stamp showing the medical practitioner's full name and designation in the hospital or clinic.
Legal Counsel FAQs
Where can an unrepresented accused obtain assistance on the conduct of a criminal case?
Can you recommend a lawyer or law firm to me?
Can I act for myself in my case?
Can you give me advice about my case?
Where can an unrepresented accused obtain assistance on the conduct of a criminal case?
You may want to talk to a lawyer about your case before deciding to represent yourself. A list of lawyers is found in the Directory of the Law Society and the yellow pages.
If you cannot afford to hire a lawyer, you can contact the Pro Bono Services Office of the Law Society of Singapore. The Pro Bono Service Office provides free legal services by way of the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme (‘CLAS’) and Community Legal Clinics. For more information, please refer to the website athttp://www.lawsociety.org.sg or contact the Pro Bono Services Office at Tel: 65360650 or email ProBonoServices@lawsoc.org.sg.
The Pro Bono Office is located at the 5th level (beside court number 5) of the Subordinate Courts building at 1 Havelock Square.
You can also visit the Subordinate Courts Help Centre where some textbooks and statutes are available. You can also view a video on the ‘Overview of court procedure in a criminal case’. However, this is not a substitute for legal advice.
Can you recommend a lawyer or law firm to me?
Staff in the Subordinate Courts are prohibited from referring you to any lawyer or law firm.
Can I act for myself in my case?
Yes, you may represent yourself.
Can you give me advice about my case?
The Subordinate Courts’ staff are not permitted to give legal advice, nor can they give you an opinion regarding your legal questions. However, they can give information on court procedures.
Magistrate’s Complaints FAQs
When can I make a Magistrate’s Complaint?
What if I do not know the identity or the address of the person against whom I am complaining?
Must I bring any documents with me?
How do I make a Magistrate’s complaint?
What can I do if a Magistrate’s Complaint is filed against me?
What orders can a Magistrate make when a Complaint is filed?
What happens when the Magistrate directs the police to investigate the Complaint?
What happens when a matter is fixed for mediation?
What happens if there is a settlement?
What happens if there is no settlement?
What happens after a summons is issued?
What happens if the Respondent or Complainant fails to attend court on the date of mention of the summons?
What happens if both parties are present?
What happens during the trial of the summons?
What can I do if I am not satisfied with the decision of the Court?
When can I make a Magistrate’s Complaint?
You can make a Magistrate’s Complaint against a person whom you believe has committed an offence which comes within the jurisdiction of a Magistrate’s Court.
What if I do not know the identity or the address of the person against whom I am complaining?
You may still make the complaint, and if the complaint discloses an offence under the law, a Magistrate can direct the police to investigate the matter.
Must I bring any documents with me?
Yes. You must come personally to the Subordinate Courts with the following documents, if any:
a) police report(s);
b) other relevant documents supporting your complaint (such as medical reports, if you have suffered personal injuries).
How do I make a Magistrate’s complaint?
Obtain a complaint form from the Complaints' Section of the Criminal Justice Division’s Registry located at the ground floor of the Subordinate Courts Complex. You may also download a copy of the Complaint form from the Subordinate Court’s website.
Fill in the particulars required in the complaint form. There are Chinese, Malay and Tamil interpreters who can help you translate your complaint into English if you are unable to do so yourself.
Hand your complaint form as well as your identity card or other identification papers, for example, passport, work permit, etc. to the counter staff. A court staff will then accompany you to swear or affirm your complaint before a Magistrate.
What can I do if a Magistrate’s Complaint is filed against me?
If you have received a Notice informing you that a Complaint has been lodged against you, you are required to attend Court on the date stated in the Notice. You may wish to prepare your response to the Complaint lodged against you and provide all supporting documents in support of your response.
Mediation will be conducted to try to resolve the matter amicably between you and the complainant.
Please note that if you fail to attend court, a summons may be issued against you.
What orders can a Magistrate make when a Complaint is filed?
The Magistrate can do any of the following:
a) If he is of the view that further inquiry into the matter is necessary, he will direct the police to investigate.
b) If he is of the view that it is a private or relational dispute involving a minor offence such as a simple assault, nuisance or causing mischief, he will direct that a Notice be issued to you and the respondent (the person against whom you are complaining) to attend mediation.
c) For step (b), if you do not know the identity or the address of the person(s) against whom you are complaining, the Magistrate will direct the police to ascertain the particulars of the respondent(s). Once the particulars are available, the Magistrate will issue a Notice to you and the respondent(s) to attend mediation.
d) If the Magistrate is of the view that the Complaint is without any basis, is a civil matter or does not disclose any offence punishable by law, he may dismiss the complaint.
e) If the Magistrate is satisfied that there is sufficient ground for proceeding against the respondent for having committed an offence punishable by law, he may issue a summons against the respondent.
What happens when the Magistrate directs the police to investigate the Complaint?
The complaint and all relevant documents provided by the complainant will be sent to the Police for investigation. In their investigations, the police may call up the complainant and the respondent. Once the Police have completed their investigations, they will forward a report to the Magistrate. The complainant may be asked to come to Court by the Magistrate to have the outcome of police investigations explained to him. Once the complainant is before the Magistrate, he may make any of the orders as set out in (b) to (d) above.
What happens when a matter is fixed for mediation?
The Magistrate may:
a) refer both parties to a Community Mediation Centre(CMC) if you and the respondent consent to it. The CMC has a panel of trained mediators who are respected members of society.
b) refer you and the respondent to a Court Mediator for mediation.
c) mediate the matter himself.
What happens if there is a settlement?
If there is a settlement, the matter will be referred to the Magistrate for a withdrawal of the complaint and no further action would be taken.
What happens if there is no settlement?
If there is no settlement and you wish to proceed with the matter further, a summons will be issued if:
a) you have prepared the necessary charge(s) against the respondent(s);
b) the Magistrate is satisfied that there is sufficient ground for proceeding against the Respondent(s) for having committed an offence punishable by law; and
c) a fee of $1 for each summons is paid.
What happens after a summons is issued?
The summons will have to be served personally on the Respondent. Where personal service is unsuccessful after two attempts, the summons will have to be served by substituted service, which means affixing the summons on the premises of the Respondent.
What happens if the Respondent or Complainant fails to attend court on the date of mention of the summons?
The court may order that a warrant of arrest be issued against the Respondent. A fee of $1.00 is payable by the Complainant for the issuance of the warrant of arrest.
If the Complainant fails to attend court, the Court may discharge the Respondent or make such other order as it deems fit.
What happens if both parties are present?
The charge will be read out to the Respondent who may either plead guilty or claim trial to the charge. If the Respondent pleads guilty and agrees with the statement of facts, he will be convicted and sentenced by the Court. If the Respondent claims trial, the court will fix the trial on another day.
What happens during the trial of the summons?
Both the Complainant and Respondent will attend before the court and be required to present their case. The Complainant will present his case first, call his witnesses and produce evidence in support of the case. Thereafter, the Respondent will present his case. Both witnesses for the Complainant and Respondent may be subject to cross-examination. When all the evidence has been presented and the submissions made, the Court will deliver its decision. For more information, please see the leaflet on “How to Conduct a Criminal Trial Yourself”.
What can I do if I am not satisfied with the decision of the Court?
Either party may appeal against the decision of the Court by lodging a Notice of Appeal at the Appeals Section Counter of the Criminal Justice Division’s Registry within 10 days from the date of the decision of the Court. The appeal will be heard by the High Court.
However, if the Complainant wishes to lodge an appeal against an order of acquittal, he must first obtain a written consent from the Public Prosecutor.
Criminal Mentions Courts FAQs
What are criminal mentions courts?
What are the functions of the criminal mentions courts?
What do I have to bring when I attend proceedings in the mentions court?
What cases are heard in Court 26?
What cases are heard in Court 23?
What cases are heard in Court 21?
What are criminal mentions courts?
There are currently five Criminal Mentions Courts - Court No. 26 and Court No. 23 which deal with general criminal cases, Court 21 which deals with traffic cases, and the two Night Courts – Court 25N and Court 26N.
The Criminal Mentions Courts are involved in the initial management of criminal cases and ensure the smooth running of the criminal justice system.
What are the functions of the criminal mentions courts?
When accused persons are first charged, they are required to appear or are brought to one of the five criminal mentions courts. The criminal mentions courts deal with a wide variety of applications including applications for bail, remand and adjournments. They also hear ‘plead guilty’ cases and some ‘plead guilty’ cases may be transferred to other courts to be heard. The accused persons who plead ‘not guilty’ are given a date to attend a pre-trial conference (‘PTC’).
What do I have to bring when I attend proceedings in the mentions court?
You should bring your NRIC/Passport/Work Pass or some other identification document which contains a photo of yourself. This is to assist the court staff to confirm that you are the person named in the charge. You should also bring your summons or notice and your bail bond if you are on bail.
Ask a family member or anyone who will be willing to be your surety to come to court in case you require a bailor.
What cases are heard in Court 26?
Court 26 deals with the more serious cases. The categories of cases charged in Court 26 are:
a) District Arrest Cases (DAC);
b) Matters awaiting preliminary inquiry and subsequent committal for trial in the High Court;
c) Where the accused faces multiple charges and at least one is a "DAC" case;
d) Where the accused has to be remanded beyond eight days.
Court 26 also sits as a Bail Court in the afternoons where it hears arguments for bail in complex cases and conducts bail reviews for accused persons in remand who were unable to raise bail but wish to be bailed out.
What cases are heard in Court 23?
Generally the cases that are charged in Court 23 include the following:
a) Magistrate's Arrest Cases ("MAC");
b) Police summonses (PS);
c) Private summonses (PSS) including "intellectual property" cases;
d) Summonses prosecuted by the following agencies:
· Official Assignee ("OA")
· Ministry of Manpower ("MOM"),
· Maritime Port Authority ("MPA")
· Health Science Authority ("HSA")
· National Parks Board ("NPB")
· Energy Market Authority (“EMA”)
· Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (“IRAS”)
· Building Control Authority (“BCA”)
What cases are heard in Court 21?
Court 21 deals with traffic and traffic-related offences prosecuted by the Traffic Police Department (‘TP’) and the Land Transport Authority (‘LTA’).
It deals with all fresh traffic arrest cases, summons and notice cases from the Traffic Police Department and Land Transport Authority where there are no offers of composition. It also deals with cases transferred from Court 25N.
It operates as a mentions court and a trial court for traffic cases.
Night Courts FAQs
What are Night Courts?
What are the operation hours?
What happens at the Night Courts?
How should I behave in Court?
What is a charge?
Must I still attend Court if I had written in to appeal against the charge before the Court date?
Who is present in the Night Court?
Can I engage a lawyer?
What do I do if I can’t speak English?
What can I do after the Charge is read to me in Court?
What if I cannot pay the fine?
Can I ask for instalment payment for the fine?
What happens if I claim trial?
What reasons can I give for an adjournment?
What is bail?
Can I be absent from Court on the appointed date?
Can I compound the offence if I have failed to do so by my Court date?
What are Night Courts?
There are two night courts - Court 25N and Court 26N. The Night Courts deal with regulatory and the less serious traffic offences. These courts function for the convenience of the working public who would otherwise have to take time off from work in order to attend court.
Court 26N deals with summonses and notices issued by various departments such the Housing and Development Board, the Urban Redevelopment Authority, Central Provident Fund Board, the Accounting & Corporate Regulatory Authority, et cetera.
Court 25N deals with road traffic offences and regulatory offences prosecuted by the Traffic Police and by the Land Transport Authority.
What are the operating hours?
Operating hours are from 6.00 pm onwards from Mondays to Fridays (except on the eve of public holidays and public holidays).
What happens at the Night Courts?
If you are alleged to have committed an offence, you would be served with a summons or a notice to attend court. When you are in court, the charge will be read and explained to you, and you will be asked if you want to plead ‘guilty’ or ‘not guilty’.
How should I behave in Court?
You should dress neatly and avoid shabby or revealing attire. Shorts, miniskirts, tank tops, halters, strapless dresses or tops, tee-shirts, rubber sandals and other informal attire is not considered appropriate
You should address the judge as “Your Honour” and bow when entering or leaving the Courtroom.
What is a charge?
The charge is a document that sets out the particulars of the offence alleged to have been committed by you. Each offence will be listed as a separate charge. You can be charged with more than one offence. One or more persons can also be charged for the same offence.
Must I still attend Court if I had written in to appeal against the charge before the Court date?
You must be present in Court on the Court date even if you have made an appeal to the prosecuting agency. A copy of the appeal letter should be brought to Court. If you are not present on the Court date, a Warrant of Arrest will be issued by the Court against you.
Who is present in the Night Court?
The Court is presided over by a Judge and is assisted by court officers, court interpreters and police officers. The prosecuting officers from the relevant law enforcement and governmental agencies will also be present.
Can I engage a lawyer?
You can engage a lawyer to represent you in your case. However, you must be present in court even if a lawyer is representing you. (See Court Attendance FAQs for when court attendance can be dispensed). If you have no lawyer, you must attend in person. If you are representing a company, a letter of authorisation from the company should be prepared and handed to the court.
What do I do if I can’t speak English?
Court interpreters for Mandarin (and the common Chinese dialects like Hokkien, Teochew, Cantonese), Malay and Tamil languages are available in Court. If you require an interpreter for a foreign language, you should make a request in writing before the Court date to the Criminal Justice Division’s Registry, Foreign Interpreters Counter, Subordinate Courts, 1 Havelock Square, Singapore 059724.
What can I do after the Charge is read to me in Court?
You can either:
a) Plead Guilty i.e. admit to the offence in the charge and the Court will proceed to impose a sentence.
b) Claim Trial i.e. you dispute you committed the offence and would like a hearing to defend yourself.
c) Adjourn i.e. to postpone your matter to another date. You will have to state your reason(s) why you require an adjournment.
What if I cannot pay the fine?
You will be required to serve the default imprisonment sentence. As such, before pleading guilty you should ensure that you have sufficient funds to pay the fine.
Can I ask for instalment payment for the fine?
You may apply to Court to pay the fine by instalments. If the Court does not allow the request, you will have to serve the default sentence if you are unable to pay the fine in full.
What happens if I claim trial?
The Court will fix your case for a pre-trial conference (“PTC”) in a ‘day court’, that is, at Court 21 if your case is in Court 25N or at Court 14 for Court 26N cases. This is to ascertain if a case is ready for trial.
*For more information on pre-trial conferences and trials, please refer to the brochure “How to Conduct a Criminal Case Yourself” which you can pick up at the Help Centre. You can also watch the video on an overview of the criminal court process at the Help Centre of the Subordinate Courts.
What reasons can I give for an adjournment?
The usual reasons for adjournment are to engage a lawyer, to make representations / appeal to the prosecuting agency, to raise funds to pay the Court fine.
If you had failed to attend Court for the same case previously and you are on police bail, when the Court grants the adjournment, your bail will be extended. If you were arrested and brought to Court directly and you are requesting for an adjournment, you may be offered Court bail. If bail is offered, you will be remanded in Changi Prison Complex until bail is furnished. If you are not able to provide bail, you will be brought to Court on the date of your next Court hearing.
What is bail?
Bail is a security, either in the form of cash or certain types of personal property, to ensure attendance on all subsequent dates until your matter is concluded. The person furnishing the security is called a bailor or surety.
Can I be absent from Court on the appointed date?
If you fail to attend a Court hearing, a warrant of arrest will be issued by the Court. If you are on bail, your surety will have his bail amount forfeited by the Court. When you are arrested and brought before the Court, you will be asked to explain your absence in Court. The Court may impose a fine if no satisfactory reason is given for your absence.
A medical certificate will not be accepted unless:
a) it contains the name of the medical practitioner who issued the certificate;
b) it states the name of the hospital/clinic in which he practices;
c) it indicates that the person to whom the certificate is issued is unable to attend Court i.e. it has been endorsed that it is valid for absence from Court proceedings and specify the date(s) on which he is unfit to attend Court;
d) it is signed in full by the medical practitioner and must not be merely initialled;
e) it is authenticated by a rubber stamp showing the medical practitioner's full name and designation in the hospital or clinic.
Can I compound the offence if I have failed to do so by my Court date?
This is entirely at the discretion of the Prosecuting Agency of your case.
For some traffic or regulatory offences (Traffic Police, Land Transport Authority, Housing and Development Board and the Urban Redevelopment Authority) you may plead guilty at the latest before 5.00pm on the first appointed Court date at any AXS Kiosk through the Automated Traffic Offence Management System (ATOMS). A fine, which is lower than the fine imposed by the Court if you had attended Court, would be imposed.
Notice of Appeal FAQs
What can one appeal against?
How long do I have to lodge an appeal?
Who can file an appeal?
What must the Notice of Appeal contain?
What if the defendant is a company?
What can the accused do if the timeline for the Notice of Appeal has lapsed?
What is the next step after the Notice of Appeal is lodged?
What can the appellant do if the timeline for the petition of appeal has lapsed?
What can one appeal against?
Any judgment, sentence or order of finality pronounced by the District Court or Magistrate’s Court in any criminal case or matter can be appealed to the High Court.
Where an accused has pleaded guilty, he can file an appeal against the sentence but he cannot appeal against the conviction. If the accused wishes to retract his plea of guilty after sentence has been passed, he can only do so by filing a Criminal Revision at the High Court.
How long do I have to lodge an appeal?
The appeal must be filed at Criminal Justice Division’s Registry of the Subordinate Courts within 10 calendar days from the time the judgment, sentence or order was made.
An accused who is serving sentence in prison may file an appeal through the Singapore Prisons Service.
Who can file an appeal?
The appeal can only be filed by a party to the case or matter, who is referred to as the Appellant. The Appellant needs to complete and submit 5 sets of the Notice of Appeal (click here for a sample).
In private summons proceedings, a complainant seeking to file an appeal against an acquittal must first seek the Public Prosecutor's consent in writing and produce this consent before he is allowed to file an appeal.
What must the Notice of Appeal contain?
If you were convicted after a trial, the notice of appeal must state if you are appealing against conviction and sentence, or only against conviction, or only against sentence.
The Notice of Appeal must contain an address to which any notices or documents connected with the appeal may be served.
If the accused is represented by a lawyer, the lawyer's particulars must be provided in the Notice of Appeal.
The completed form should be submitted (within 10 days) to the Appeals & Notes of Evidence Counter of the Registry and a fee of $5 is payable at the Counter.
What if the defendant is a company?
Where the Appellant is a company, the representative of the company who signs the Notice of Appeal must attach a letter from the Company authorising him to do so.
What can the accused do if the timeline for the Notice of Appeal has lapsed?
If the timeline for lodging the Notice of Appeal has lapsed and the accused wishes to lodge an appeal, he must apply to the High Court for an extension of time to lodge the Notice of Appeal. The application for an extension of time is made by filing a Criminal Motion at the High Court.
What is the next step after the Notice of Appeal is lodged?
Once the Notice of Appeal is lodged, the Judge will be informed and the Grounds of Decision will be prepared.
When the Grounds of Decision is ready, a signed copy together with the Notes of Evidence will be served by the process server on the Appellant or his lawyer.
Having been served with the Grounds of Decision, the Appellant, if he intends to proceed with the appeal, must lodge with the Criminal Justice Division’s Registry of the Subordinate Courts a Petition of Appeal addressed to the High Court within 10 calendar days from the date of service of the Grounds of Decision together with the Notes of Evidence.
What can the appellant do if the timeline for the petition of appeal has lapsed?
If the timeline for lodging the Petition of Appeal has lapsed and the Appellant wishes to proceed with his appeal, the Appellant must apply to the High Court for an extension of time to lodge the Petition of Appeal. The application for an extension of time is made by filing a Criminal Motion at the High Court.
Plead guilty process FAQs
What does pleading guilty means?
What is a statement of facts?
Will I be sentence immediately after I admit to the statement of facts and previous convictions, if any?
What is a mitigation plea?
Can I ask for a postponement of sentence after I plead guilty?
What does pleading guilty means?
Pleading guilty means that you admit committing the offence with which you are charged with without any qualification. Your plea of guilty will only be accepted if you agree with the essential facts describing how the offence was committed as stated in the statement of facts.
What is a statement of facts?
After you have pleaded guilty, the prosecuting officer will read out the statement of facts describing how the offence was committed. A statement of facts is a narration of the circumstances and facts constituting the offence prepared by the prosecution.
If you do not agree with the statement of facts, the judge will decide whether to reject your guilty plea. If the judge is of the view that by disputing the facts you are denying the commission of the offence, your guilty plea will be rejected and your case will be fixed for a pre-trial conference (PTC) so that you can choose to claim trial and take trial date(s).
If the judge decides that you are not denying the offence but the facts that you deny would be relevant to sentence, the judge will conduct a hearing to decide the facts. This called a ‘Newton’ hearing. The judge will hear the prosecution’s evidence and your evidence and that of your witnesses (if any) in order to decide the facts. After he decides the facts, you will be convicted.
Will I be sentence immediately after I admit to the statement of facts and previous convictions, if any?
No. Before the court imposes sentence, you will be given an opportunity to present your mitigation plea to the court.
What is a mitigation plea?
You can mitigate by speaking in open court or in writing by way of a letter of mitigation. The purpose of this is to convince the judge to impose the most lenient punishment possible. You should state specific reasons for the court to impose a lighter sentence than it normally would. You can inform the judge about your family background, educational qualifications, medical history, employment history and relevant factors which gave rise to the offence in support of your application for a lighter sentence. If you have relevant documents to support what you say, you should produce them in court.
Can I ask for a postponement of sentence after I plead guilty?
The Court will normally impose sentence immediately upon your plea of guilty. Therefore, when you plead guilty, you must be prepared to be sentenced immediately.
However, the Court will allow a postponement of sentence if you are able to give good reasons. The court will also consider if you have been granted time before and when you were first charged in Court.
Statutory declarations FAQs
How do I make a statutory declaration?
How do I make a statutory declaration?
Step 1: Obtain a statutory declaration form
For a statutory declaration which is intended for use in the Subordinate Courts, the Applicant may complete the appropriate standard application form (click here for the form) or obtain the form free of charge from the Commissioner for Oaths office at the ground floor of the Subordinate Courts, Havelock Square Complex.
Please note that with effect from 19 November 2001, the Subordinate Courts' Commissioner for Oaths will not attest to documents by or referred by lawyers.
You may also obtain the forms from the Supreme Court, the relevant Ministries, statutory boards or organisations where the statutory declarations are intended for use.
You may also appear before a lawyer who has been appointed a Commissioner for Oaths. (click here for link to Law Society's list of Commissioners for Oaths).
Step 2 : Fill in the statutory declaration form
If your statutory declaration is required by a particular Ministry or statutory board, find out from them what you are required to declare and approach the relevant Commissioner for Oaths of that particular Ministry or statutory board.
You must ensure that the form is properly filled up and completed before swearing or affirming it.
The Commissioner for Oaths will assist you if you have any difficulty in filling the forms.
Step 3: Proceed to the Commissioner for Oaths
For documents intended for use in the Subordinate Courts, the Commissioners for Oaths are located at the ground floor of the Subordinate Courts, Havelock Square Complex. You may swear or affirm your declaration in the English, Chinese, Malay or Tamil language.
Please note that the service is available on Mondays to Fridays during office hours.
For statutory declarations intended for use by the various Ministries or statutory boards, please contact them directly for more information.
Step 4: Swear or affirm the declaration and sign the document
Proceed to the appropriate room and produce your identity card for verification. You will then be asked by the Commissioner for Oaths to swear or affirm your declaration.
Following that, you and the Commissioner for Oaths will sign the declaration. The statutory declaration is now duly sworn or affirmed.
No change, i.e. amendment or deletion, may be made to the declaration unless it is done in the presence of the Commissioner for Oaths.
Traffic cases FAQs
If I have a traffic case where will my case be heard?
Can I settle my case without attending court?
What do I do if I did not pay within the composition period? Will I have to attend court?
Why should I use ATOMS to plead guilty to the offence?
What is ATOMs
Where can I find ATOMs?
How do I use ATOMs and how do I pay?
What is the cut-off time for using ATOMs?
What happens if I did not pay the composition fine and missed the deadline to pay by ATOMs?
Should I use ATOMS if I have a good reason for committing the offence?
Which offences carry demerit points?
Will I be disqualified from driving if I commit a traffic offence?
If I have a traffic case where will my case be heard?
Please look at your summons, notice or ticket for the Court at which you must appear. Your case may be heard at Court 21 or in the Night Court at Court 25N.
Can I settle my case without attending court?
Yes, but only for minor traffic offences. A traffic offence is considered minor if there is an offer to compound stated on the traffic ticket or notice issued to you. The ticket or notice will state the amount which you can pay to settle without going to court.
If you have received a traffic ticket or notice from the Traffic Police Department, Land Transport Authority, Housing & Development Board or Urban Redevelopment Authority, check the ticket or notice to see if there is an offer to compound.
You will have to pay the composition fine within the period stated. The composition fine is far less than what you would have to pay if you are fined in Court.
What do I do if I did not pay within the composition period? Will I have to attend court?
If the offer to compound has expired, you can still settle your case via ATOMS.
You will need to plead guilty through ATOMS to the offence stated in your ticket or notice. After you have pleaded guilty, you will be convicted of the offence and you will have to pay a fine, which will be higher than the offer to compound but lower than the Court fine if you attend Court.
Why should I use ATOMS to plead guilty to the offence?
There are 2 reasons:-
a) You can plead guilty at your convenience and you do not have to go to court;
b) The court fine that you will have to pay when you use ATOMS will be much lower than the fine imposed by the Court.
What is ATOMs?
ATOMS stands for 'Automated Traffic Offence Management System.' It allows you to settle your ticket or notice for minor traffic and parking offences from the Traffic Police Department, Urban Redevelopment Authority, Land Transport Authority and Housing Development Board using the NETS kiosks and AXS stations which are located island-wide.
Where can I find ATOMs?
You can call NETS Customer Service Hotline at 6274 1212 or visit http://www.nets.com.sg to find the NETS kiosk nearest to you. For the locations of the AXS stations, you can visit www.axs.com.sg.
You can also access ATOMS via the “eServices” tab in the Subordinate Courts webpage at www.subcourts.gov.sg.
How do I use ATOMs and how do I pay?
ATOMS is easy to use. You just have to follow the instructions given and touch the screen at the kiosk to enter certain numbers or indicate your choice when you are asked any questions.
To make payment, you will need an ATM card or a cash card. If you use the Internet, currently the system only allows payment by eNETs Debit.
What is the cut-off time for using ATOMs?
You can plead guilty and pay the court fine via ATOMS until 5.00pm on the day that you are required to attend court which is stated in your ticket or notice. Payment at ATOMS will not be accepted after 5.00pm and you will need to attend Court.
What happens if I did not pay the composition fine and missed the deadline to pay by ATOMs?
You would need to attend Court. Please note that if you do not attend Court, the Court will issue a warrant of arrest against you.
Should I use ATOMS if I have a good reason for committing the offence?
You should still use ATOMS. You will be asked if you want to mitigate the offence. If you want to inform the judge of your personal circumstances or circumstances which gave rise to the offence to persuade the judge to impose a lighter fine, you should answer "Yes" and then go to court on the date stated on the ticket or notice to explain to the Judge your reasons. The Judge will consider your reasons before imposing the court fine.
Which offences carry demerit points?
The demerit points are determined and awarded by the Traffic Police. You can visit the website of the Traffic Police which states the offences which carry demerit points and the number of demerit points awarded.
Click on the tab – ‘Driver’s Improvement Point System’ (‘DIPS’).
Will I be disqualified from driving if I commit a traffic offence?
Disqualification may be mandatory or discretionary depending on the specific offence you had committed.
In instances where disqualification is discretionary, the court would generally make any order where the facts of the offence show specific bad driving or where the offender is a persistent motoring offender.
For some offences, the court has a discretion not to order disqualification only where ‘special reasons’ exist. The ‘special reasons’ have to be reasons which relate to the facts or circumstances of an offence and not to the offender himself. If special reasons are found, the court must be further satisfied that the discretion should be exercised in favour of the offender not to disqualify him or her.
In determining whether to disqualify an offender from driving, factors such as financial hardship or a previously unblemished driving record are not accepted by the court as ‘special reasons’.
Common court terms
To find out the meaning of legal terms you can consult legal dictionaries, such as Findlaw Legal Dictionary (http://dictionary.lp.findlaw.com/).
You may also refer to:
· English-Chinese Glossary of Commonly Used Terms in the Proceedings of the Subordinate Courts (Subordinate Courts of Singapore)
· English-Malay Glossary of Commonly Used Terms in the Proceedings of the Subordinate Courts (Subordinate Courts of Singapore)
Here are some common words or phrases you will hear in a criminal case. This glossary is by necessity general in nature and is not intended as legal advice, but rather information which may be helpful in understanding certain common words used in court.
| Word/phrase |
Meaning |
| accused |
The person charged with an offence. He is also sometimes called the defendant. |
| acquittal |
A verdict in which the accused is found not guilty of the charge. |
| adjournment |
Postponing or rescheduling a case or court session until another date or time. |
aggravating
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Factors making a situation worse. For example, an offence of cheating is aggravated in the eyes of a court if the victim is an elderly person. |
alibi
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Evidence that can show the accused to be present at a particular place and time and hence unlikely to have been at the place and time where the offence is alleged to have been committed. |
arrest
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The restraint of a person by a law enforcement officer in connection with an offence, in which the person is not free to leave. |
appeal
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A request to a higher court that the verdict or order of a court be changed. |
| bail |
Property or money pledged in order to ensure that a person under arrest will be released from custody and will attend court as and when required until the completion of the case. |
| beyond reasonable doubt |
In a criminal case, the accused's guilt must be established beyond a reasonable doubt. Proof beyond a reasonable doubt is the degree of belief a judge must have regarding all factual elements of the charged offence. No doubt, based on reason and common sense, can exist as to any fact needed to be proved. |
| burden of proof |
The responsibility of proving a point. It deals with which side must establish a fact or facts. In a criminal case, the prosecution generally bears the burden of proof. |
| case law |
Decisions of courts relating to a particular matter or issue. |
| chambers |
A room to conduct certain hearings or for the judge to discuss matters in a case from which the public are excluded. |
| charge |
The document which states the offence which the accused is alleged to have committed. |
| close of the prosecution case |
After the prosecution has called all its witnesses to give evidence in support of the charge(s) against the accused. |
| close of the defence case |
After the accused and his witnesses, if any, have given their evidence. |
| closing submissions |
Speeches by accused and prosecutor summarising the evidence and arguments to persuade the judge to decide in their favour. |
| compensation order |
An order for the payment by an accused of a sum of money fixed by the court to a person who was injured or suffered a loss in respect of property by the crime or offence for which the accused is found guilty. |
| concurrent sentence |
Where the sentences of imprisonment imposed by the court on two or more offences are ordered to take effect at the same time. |
| consecutive sentence |
Where the sentences of imprisonment imposed by the court on two or more distinct offences are ordered to be served one after another. |
| contempt of court |
It is an act of purposely not following an order given by the court. It also means misbehaving in court and thereby interfering with the proceedings or showing disrespect. Contempt of court is punishable with fine or imprisonment or both. |
| convicted |
The accused is convicted of an offence when the judge finds that he has committed an offence after a trial or where the accused admits the offence by pleading guilty. |
| cross-examination |
The questioning of a witness by a party other than the one that called the witness to the witness stand. |
| culpability |
Blame. |
| custodial sentence |
A period of time that an offender has to spend in prison as punishment for his offence. |
| evidence |
Any relevant proof presented at the trial through witnesses, documents, physical objects, etc., for the purpose of convincing the court. |
| examination-in-chief |
The process in which a witness gives his/her evidence in court, i.e. testimony for the party that he/she had volunteered to do so or had subpoenaed him/her. |
| exhibit |
Document or material object produced in court as evidence in a case. Each document or object is given an identifying number in numerical sequence when it is offered as evidence. |
| expert |
A witness who plays the specific role of assisting the court by providing the requisite information which falls outside the experience and knowledge of a judge. |
| final submissions |
See under “closing submissions”. |
| hearing |
Proceedings held before a court. |
| hearsay |
Evidence of a statement made to a witness by a person who is not himself called as a witness and cannot be admitted as evidence in court (i.e. inadmissible) when the object of the evidence is to establish the truth of what is contained in the statement. |
| joinder of charges |
Where the accused has committed more than one offence at the same time, and he can be charged with and tried for each of these offences at one trial. |
| joint trial |
Where more than one accused person are jointly charged for the same offence or different offences but in the same transaction, and prosecuted together at the same trial. |
| jurisdiction |
The authority or power the court has to hear a case and make a decision and to sentence. |
| magistrate’s complaint |
An allegation usually made in writing to a Magistrate that a person has committed an offence with a view to prosecute the person. |
| mitigation |
Arguments made by an accused or on behalf of an accused who has been convicted of an offence to convince the judge to impose the most lenient punishment possible. |
| Newton’s hearing |
A hearing conducted by the judge to determine the facts if the accused disputes facts that will be relevant to sentence. |
| non-seizable offence |
An offence for which a person may not be arrested without warrant. |
| open court |
Proceedings are held in open court with members of the public free to enter the courtroom and observe proceedings. Some sensitive cases or the evidence of certain witnesses may be heard "in camera", which means in private. |
| pending |
In process; not yet decided. |
| plea |
An accused admits or denies commission of a crime by pleading ‘guilty’ or ‘not guilty’. |
| precedent |
A previously decided case that has similar facts and/or legal issues. |
| pre-trial conference |
A conference(s) held in cases where an accused has pleaded not guilty before a judge in Chambers for the prosecutor and the defence or the accused to meet to identify the issues and outline the evidence for trial dates to be taken if the case is not resolved by a guilty plea or a withdrawal of the charge(s). |
| prima facie case |
When the court is satisfied at the close of the prosecution’s case that there is evidence on all the ingredients of the offence(s) to make out a case for the accused to give his defence. |
| prosecution |
In criminal cases, it is the State that initiates the case; they are referred to as the prosecution. |
| Public Prosecutor |
The Attorney-General is the Public Prosecutor. He has the control of all criminal prosecutions and proceedings. |
| question of fact |
A question that depends on an examination of factual matters. |
| question of law |
A question that depends on an examination of law rather than fact. |
| seizable offence |
An offence for which a person may be arrested without warrant. |
| sentence |
The punishment a judge imposes on an accused person convicted of an offence. |
| Statement of facts |
A written summary of facts describing how the offence was committed. |
| statute |
A law that has been passed by an Act of Parliament. |
| submission of ‘no case’ |
This is an argument at the close of the prosecution’s case by the defence or the accused that the evidence presented by the prosecution is not enough to make out a case requiring the accused to give his version. |
| subpoena / summons |
A written order requiring a person to appear in court to testify. The subpoena states the date, time, place and proceedings at which the witness must appear. |
| testify |
The act by which a witness offers testimony in court. |
| testimony |
Statements made by witnesses in court. |
| T.I.C. (into consideration) |
Accused admits to committing the offence(s) in the charge(s) and agrees that the charge(s) be taken into account for the purpose of sentence. A separate sentence is not passed on the charge(s) but it may affect the overall sentence. |
| trial |
The process of hearing of a case before a judge where physical and testimonial evidence is presented for a determination of whether an accused is guilty or not guilty of the offence(s) which he is alleged to have committed. |
| trial-within-a-trial / voir dire |
A separate proceeding from the main trial which is usually conducted to determine if the statement of an accused can be admitted in evidence if it is alleged the statement was given involuntarily. |
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Court forms
1. Magistrate’s complaint form
2. Application for issue of subpoenae
3. Form 59 – Application for Court Records in Criminal Proceedings
4. Application for adjournment
5. Application for cancellation of warrant of arrest
6. Application to leave jurisdiction
7. Application for dispensation of court attendance (night court cases)
8. Notice of Appeal
9. Statutory declaration
Informational leaflets
1. Criminal Mentions Courts
2. Community Court
3. Night Courts
4. Coroner’s Court
5. Duties and Responsibilities of a Bailor
6. Magistrate’s complaints
7. Vulnerable Witness Support Programme
8. How to conduct a criminal case yourself
9. Town Councils summonses
Informational videos
Useful links
The following are links to websites that you might find useful.
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