DELIVERING JUSTICE TO THE COMMUNITY Annual Report 2015 SHARED VISION CONTENTS Inspiring public trust and confidence through an effective and FOREWORD BY THE HONOURABLE accessible justice system THE CHIEF JUSTICE 2 MISSION MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDING JUDGE OF THE STATE COURTS 6 Serving society with quality judgments, timely dispute resolution and ORGANISATION CHART 12 excellent court services CELEBRATING 40 YEARS AT HAVELOCK SQUARE 13 CORE VALUES Fairness DELIVERING JUSTICE TO THE COMMUNITY 25 Accessibility Launch of State Courts Centre for Dispute Resolution 26 Launch of Community Justice and Tribunals Division 27 Independence, Integrity, Impartiality Responsiveness SERVING SOCIETY 29 Significant Initiatives 30 INSPIRING PUBLIC TRUST AND CONFIDENCE 45 Caseload Profile 46 Significant Cases 48 Local and International Awards 57 Our International Profile 59 Visits by Distinguished Guests in 2015 63 THE PEOPLE OF STATE COURTS 65 Presiding Judge and Heads of Division 66 Leadership Team 67 State Courts Committees 2015 68 Public Service Month Activities 70 Cohesion Day 2015 71 Staff Event Highlights 72 National Day and State Courts Awards 76 State Courts, Singapore Annual Report 2015 1 BACK TO CONTENTS PAGE Foreword by The State Courts published their caseload is expected to increase. THE HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE first annual report in 1999 and These community disputes continued to do so every year are managed by the newly- since then. These annual reports established Community Justice enable the stakeholders of the and Tribunals Division (CJTD). justice system, in particular, the members of the public, to better Another milestone for the State understand the work of the Courts in the year 2015 was Courts and the role they play in the launch of the State Courts our community. This is important Centre for Dispute Resolution. in fostering public trust and Like the CJTD, this Centre places confidence in the judiciary as an emphasis on the use of well as for accountability to the mediation to resolve disputes. people we serve. The use of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) through court- The title of this annual report based mediation is not new in is “Delivering Justice to the State Courts. However, the the Community”. The State establishment of a specialised Courts’ commitment towards centre to provide ADR services the excellent delivery of across the entire range of cases justice remains steadfast and highlights the State Courts’ unwavering. This annual report emphasis on ADR as the first reflects the excellent work of the stop of the litigation process. State Courts on so many fronts, as the Presiding Judge and his colleagues continue in their quest “The ultimate goal is to to ensure justice for all. preserve peace and maintain by Foreword harmony in our community. In 2015, the State Courts dealt with approximately 326,450 At the same time, this helps The Honourable the Chief Justice Honourable The cases, an increase of more us ensure that justice can than 14,000 cases compared Annual Report 2015 be accessed through a to the previous year. With variety of dispute resolution the commencement of the Protection from Harassment methods, with a continuing Act and the Community focus on controlling costs.” Disputes Resolution Act, the State Courts, Singapore 2 3 BACK TO CONTENTS PAGE Notwithstanding the heavy Being” and “Teamwork”. There Meanwhile, work on the new caseload and the daily priorities is appreciably high staff morale, State Courts Building is already of dispensing justice in the State and I congratulate the leadership underway and continues apace Courts, I am pleased that the Judges team and commend their efforts. as we turn our attention to and Court Administrators of the the future. State Courts were able to make The cover of this annual report time to organise and participate features a painting by eminent I extend my appreciation in several legal education and Singaporean watercolour artist, to all the Judges and Court community outreach activities. Mr Ong Kim Seng, of the State Administrators of the State I applaud, in particular, the Courts Building as it stood prior Courts for their hard work and programmes organised during the to 2009. As 2015 marked the 40th dedication in serving the people “Public Awareness Week” where anniversary of the State Courts of Singapore. I have the utmost the State Courts held a week- Building, it was felt that the use of confidence that the State Courts long public exhibition in the day, this painting on the cover of the will continue to deliver justice and a series of informative talks annual report would be a fitting to the community as aptly in the evenings. The talks were memorial of the iconic white encapsulated in the title of this well-received by the public, and octagon-shaped building that has annual report. I understand that there are plans become a familiar and distinctive to continue to hold such talks to landmark in our community. increase public awareness of the SUNDARESH MENON law and legal rights. Chief Justice “It reminds us of the Republic of Singapore I am also delighted that the contributions the State excellent work of the State Courts have made towards Courts in serving our external stakeholders is matched by a very developing Singapore’s well-regarded work environment justice system into what by our staff. In this regard, I it is today – a world- by Foreword congratulate the State Courts for class judiciary that has garnering extremely strong results The Honourable the Chief Justice Honourable The in the Organisational Health consistently enjoyed public Survey 2015. The staff of the State trust and confidence, helping Annual Report 2015 Courts ranked the organisation Singapore to achieve high highly in various categories international rankings for including “Organisational Foresight”, “Service”, “Well- upholding the Rule of Law.” State Courts, Singapore 4 5 BACK TO CONTENTS PAGE Message from the DELIVERING JUSTICE TO We were privileged to be able PRESIDING JUDGE OF THE STATE COURTS THE COMMUNITY to convey our appreciation to all our pioneering Judges and Court 2015 was an eventful year Administrators who have helped as Singapore celebrated her bring us to where we are today. golden jubilee as a nation. As the State Courts reflected on Two New Justice Divisions our contributions to Singapore’s The justice divisions of the progress over the last 50 State Courts have traditionally years, we are mindful of the operated according to the areas need to continue delivering of law which they deal with. The fair and accessible justice to State Courts now deal exclusively the community to ensure our with civil and criminal matters. country’s continued progress in Although the Civil Justice the next 50 years and beyond. Division and Criminal Justice Division handle discrete areas 40th Anniversary of the of law, there are occasions when State Courts Building the two areas intersect and a On 15 September 2015, we holistic approach is called for to celebrated the 40th anniversary better serve our court users. With of the State Courts Building. this in mind, we established the We were joined by The Community Justice and Tribunals Honourable Attorney-General Division to provide a centralised V K Rajah SC, Judges and Judicial location for the resolution of all Commissioners of the Supreme community justice issues, such as community disputes, harassment Court, former Senior District Message from the Judges Mr Michael Khoo SC issues and small claims. We and Mr Errol Foenander, former also established the State Courts Registrars of the State Courts, Centre for Dispute Resolution, our stakeholders in the justice which consolidates our court- of the State Courts Presiding Judge system, and Mr Sonny Chan based Alternative Dispute and Mr Lee Kut Cheung who Resolution services, and serves as Annual Report 2015 were the key persons involved the focal point in providing these in the design and construction services for civil, criminal and of the State Courts Building. relational disputes. State Courts, Singapore 6 7 BACK TO CONTENTS PAGE Simplifying Civil Processes for important plea negotiation were 76 cases managed under Authority, Financial Industry Lower Value Claims processes between accused the Enhanced GPS programme Disputes Resolution Centre In 2013, the State Courts began persons and the prosecution, as of December 2015. Limited, and the Personal Injury/ to look into simplifying the namely, the Criminal Case Property Damage Committee of procedural rules and processes Management System and Pre-Trial Conference Centre The Law Society of Singapore. for lower value civil cases. Criminal Case Resolution, The new Pre-Trial Conference Work is apace to update and revise This project culminated in the which were previously available (PTC) Centre, located on the protocols and procedures, introduction of Order 108 of only to accused persons who the mezzanine level, began taking into account the feedback the Rules of Court in November are represented by a lawyer. operations on 3 December 2015. from the consultations with 2014. There are encouraging With the extension of the PJP Previously located at Court our stakeholders. The revised signs from case outcomes in 2015 to criminal matters, this will 17, the new Centre enhances Practice Directions and Protocols that the main aim of Order 108 enable more accused persons to the management of criminal will come into operation in the – to resolve cases expeditiously make more informed decisions PTCs by integrating them into second quarter of 2016. and at a proportionate level of in relation to their cases. a dedicated centre comprising cost – is being achieved. A user three PTC chambers fitted with Concurrent Expert Evidence survey conducted at the end of Enhanced Guidance for a waiting area and video-link (CEE) Procedure 2015 showed that the mechanism Plea Scheme facilities to the remand area. The CEE procedure or “hot of the early case management Accused persons who are not tubbing” is a procedural conference (CMC) has been represented by counsel may Strengthening Pre-Action technique where opposing well-received.