Annual Report 2018 Contents
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ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S CHAMBERS ANNUAL REPORT 2018 CONTENTS 02 04 08 ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S ORGANISATIONAL ACTING AS MESSAGE PROFILE THE GOVERNMENT’S LEGAL ADVISER 14 22 38 PROTECTOR OF THE REPRESENTING KEEPER OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST SINGAPORE’S INTERESTS SINGAPORE STATUTE ABROAD BOOK 48 62 DEVELOPING AGC’S COMMITMENT TO LEGAL PROFESSIONALS CORPORATE SOCIAL AND EXECUTIVES RESPONSIBILITY AGC ANNUAL REPORT 2018 AGC ANNUAL REPORT 2018 As the guardian of the public interest and ATTORNEY- the steward of the rule of law, AGC’s work reflects the dedication and commitment to public service that the 600-strong AGC GENERAL’S staff display every day, even in the face of increasing workloads and increasingly MESSAGE complex cases. 2018 was a fast-paced and busy both of which resulted in constructive year for AGC. We strove to make fair outcomes that safeguarded Singapore’s prosecutorial decisions, provide quality interests. We also advised and supported advice to our Government clients, draft the Government in the hosting of the clear and accessible legislation and inaugural Trump-Kim Summit in June safeguard Singapore’s interests. 2018. AGC fostered closer ties with our regional counterparts, hosting As the Public Prosecutor, we hold the a successful Meeting of Attorneys- important position of being the guardian General in July 2018 – the first such of the public interest. Hard decisions, meeting in almost 30 years. which may not be popular, have to be taken in the wider public interest. Justice Closer to home, AGC held the inaugural must be even-handed; we do not seek to Public Sector Legal Forum in November 02 win every case nor do we always ask for 2018, which brought together the 03 the highest sentence. More importantly, community of public sector lawyers we do not regard the accused as our from ministries and statutory boards. adversary. At the same time, we have We continued our engagements taken a strong stand in the protection with our stakeholders in 2018 and of vulnerable victims, such as minors, supported the community through the elderly and domestic workers. It is various activities, such as the Attorney- important that AGC stand up and speak General’s Challenge Cup, which involved for victims without a voice. a friendly soccer match between AGC, the Criminal Bar and ex-convicts from In 2018, we were a key partner in the the Yellow Ribbon Project. Singapore Public Service’s drive to become a Smart Nation. We drafted Our law drafters continued to draft legislation for several bills, including legislation to support the policies of those to facilitate more efficient data the Government. Compared to 2017, we sharing and more robust cyber security. saw an average increase of 53.8% more We provided advice on policies relating pages of legislation drafted in 2018. to a National Digital Identity System as well as electronic payments and As the guardian of the public interest transactions. We also led evidence in and the steward of the rule of law, the Committee of Inquiry (COI) for AGC’s work reflects the dedication and the SingHealth cyber-attack and put commitment to public service that the forward 16 recommendations that were 600-strong AGC staff display every day, all accepted by the COI. even in the face of increasing workloads and increasingly complex cases. AGC On the international front, AGC officers will continue to do what is fair and right advised the Government on several for Singapore and its people. significant issues, including the Pedra Branca cases before the International Mr Lucien Wong Court of Justice and the High Speed Rail Attorney-General linking Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, AGC ANNUAL REPORT 2018 AGC ANNUAL REPORT 2018 III ABOUT THE Representing Singapore’s V ATTORNEY- Interests Abroad by advising the Government on international Developing AGC’s GENERAL’S law, representing Singapore at international negotiations and dispute settlement matters, Legal Professionals and handling mutual legal assistance And Executives CHAMBERS and extradition requests by launching competency frameworks and leadership and management VI AGC’s Mission training for legal officers Serving Singapore’s interests Committing To and upholding the rule of Corporate Social law through sound advice, Responsibility effective representation, fair and independent prosecution by fostering strong relationships and accessible legislation within the legal community, contributing back to society, and saving the environment 04 I 05 Acting As The Government’s Legal Adviser by rendering legal advice to the Government, drafting and vetting contracts and legal documents, and representing the Government in court proceedings, negotiations and dispute resolution hearings IV II Acting As Keeper Of The Singapore Statute Book Protecting The Public’s Interest by drafting laws, providing legislative consultancy to the Government and all public sector agencies, law publication by taking a strong stand against perpetrators of crime, being an and database management for the public, making laws more advocate for vulnerable victims, ensuring even-handed justice, understandable for Singaporeans, and sharing and providing and assisting the courts in establishing sentencing frameworks assistance on legislative drafting expertise AGC ANNUAL REPORT 2018 AGC ANNUAL REPORT 2018 Mrs Koh Juat Jong was acting Attorney- General before Mr Sundaresh Menon was ATTORNEYS-GENERAL OF sworn in as Attorney-General in October 2010. Mr Menon laid the groundwork for several initiatives, such as the Code 2010 SINGAPORE of Practice for the conduct of criminal proceedings, increasing access to defence counsel for those wrongfully accused, and mental health screening for offenders. When Mr Steven Chong took over in Following Singapore’s independence in 2012, he further developed the Code 1965, Mr Ahmad Bin Mohamad Ibrahim of Practice for the conduct of criminal was appointed the first Attorney-General 2012 proceedings. Mr Chong also launched 1965 of Singapore. Apart from playing a huge what became known as the Appropriate role in the merger talks with Malaya, Adults Scheme, and improved AGC’s he also drafted the Women’s Charter, public communications efforts. Intestate Succession Act, Administration of Muslim Law Act, and other statutes that During his term, Mr V K Rajah introduced formed the foundation of the Singapore initiatives to improve institutional legal system. efficiency and strengthen specialist prosecutorial capabilities. As Attorney- Mr Tan Boon Teik took on the role as General, he helmed a committee which 2014 acting Attorney-General in 1967 before proposed recommendations to the assuming the role officially in 1968. Government on developing the legal Mr Tan went on to serve for 25 years, sector in Singapore. He also introduced making him Singapore’s longest-serving 1968 digital platforms that prosecutors could Attorney-General. He worked alongside use to increase productivity. the country’s founding fathers in laying the groundwork for Singapore to grow as a young nation, and developed the legal landscape. The current Attorney-General is 06 Mr Chan Sek Keong served for 14 years 2017 Mr Lucien Wong, who assumed office 07 as Attorney-General and made valuable on 14 January 2017. changes to the legal landscape. In 1993, he persuaded the Government to enact the 1992 Application of English Law Act (Cap 7A) to remove uncertainties surrounding the application of English law to Singapore. He also enhanced AGC’s capabilities by strengthening the Civil and Criminal Divisions, and setting up the International Affairs Division. Mr Chao Hick Tin played an integral ORGANISATIONAL role in the Pedra Branca case, as part of the team presenting Singapore’s oral arguments at The Hague in 2007. During STRUCTURE OF AGC IN 2018 his tenure, the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (Amendment) 2006 Bill 2007, the Passports Bill 2007 and the Land Acquisition (Amendment) Attorney-General Bill 2007 were also introduced in Parliament. Mr Chao was also one of Deputy Attorney-General Deputy Attorney-General the founding members of the ASEAN Law Association. Mr Walter Woon saw the benefits of reaching out and maintaining close Solicitor-General relations with law schools to draw talent. As Attorney-General, he also 2008 introduced an alternative to prosecution, Civil Criminal Financial Advocacy International Legislation AGC Corporate the conditional warning, and helped set Division Justice and Group Affairs Division Academy Services up the Centre for International Law at Division Technology Division Division the National University of Singapore to Crime improve international law expertise in Division Singapore and the region. AGC ANNUAL REPORT 2018 AGC ANNUAL REPORT 2018 As the Government’s legal adviser, AGC plays a vital role in ACTING AS protecting and advancing the Government’s interests, facilitating THE GOVERNMENT’S the administration of justice and upholding the rule of law. LEGAL ADVISER PROVIDING SOUND ADVICE ON GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES Significant Legal Advices Rendered Notable advices rendered include the following: 6 attendances at Court of Appeal hearings for civil matters MYINFO STEERING NATIONAL TRADE COMMITTEE PLATFORM 308 attendances at other Advised the MyInfo Steering Committee Provided legal advice relating to final- 10,691 court hearings for civil on legal matters, including terms of stage implementation of the National pieces of legal advice matters service for the MyInfo service and Trade Platform. rendered in total Representing The addition of various new data items to Government In