The ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S CHAMBERS of Singapore ANNUAL REPORT 2013/2014 Contents 02 Foreword by the Attorney-General 06 Our Mission, Vision & Core Values 07 Our Roles 08 Our Corporate Structure 10 Our Appreciation & Congratulations 14 Our People 26 The Attorney-General’s Roles A. As the Government’s Chief Legal Adviser and Counsel B. As Public Prosecutor C. In Performing Other Assigned Duties of a Legal Character 47 Our Outreach & New Initiatives 59 Our Training & Capabilities Development 63 The Ties that Bind Us 68 Key Figures - Expenditure Indicators - Performance Indicators ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S CHAMBERS Annual Report 2013/2014 1 Foreword By In the first Annual Report published after Outside of AGC, I have strengthened our ties my appointment, I had highlighted the key with other stakeholders of the criminal justice initiatives undertaken by AGC in the pursuit system through our common purpose of The Attorney-General of transparency, modernisation, cooperation maintaining a fair, efficient and enduring and development of our resources. In this criminal justice system. To my mind, a report card highlighting the matters which collegial relationship between AGC and other occupied AGC during my second year in stakeholders of the criminal justice system The Office of the Attorney-General office, you will observe that these are recurring will necessarily be in the public interest is undoubtedly one that wields great themes which permeate our work ethos in as it will continually spur us to work together power and consequently immense AGC. Given my firm commitment that I for the good of our society. To this end, responsibilities. After all, this Office should build upon and strengthen the my officers have, in the past year, consistently provides direction for and exercises foundations laid before me, I have sought to collaborated with enforcement agencies and independent control of all criminal introduce initiatives which will institutionalise the Criminal Bar to improve the administration proceedings in Singapore, and acts as stability and continuity to the work of AGC of criminal justice. the Government’s principal legal adviser. that is independent of my term in office. As AG Chan Sek Keong (as he then was) By way of an example, the Embedment aptly observed at the inaugural Legal The need for continuity and stability is greater Project involves experienced Deputy Public Branch Conference in 1996, this Office now than ever before, in a changing society Prosecutors stationed for fixed terms in may also be viewed as “a public where, for example, my officers have had to enforcement agencies, such as specialised responsibility held in trust for the swiftly respond on multiple fronts (be it divisions of the Police, the Corrupt Practices public to be discharged in the public advising the Government, assisting the Investigation Bureau and the Central Narcotics interest”. To put it another way, the Committee of Inquiry, prosecuting the Bureau. These officers act as the first point of exacting standards to which this Office offenders or effecting legislative reforms) consultation for investigation officers at an is rightly held to, mandate that its in the wake of a violent and unprecedented early stage in the investigation process. In turn, responsibilities and duties should be riot in Little India that took Singapore by this has served the interests of justice – the discharged with integrity, impartiality, storm. It is from this perspective that this quality of investigations has improved; the time competence and professionalism at all Annual Report presents the highlights of taken for a case to be prosecuted or withdrawn times, regardless of the office bearer AGC’s past year. has reduced; and precious resources have been of the day. saved. As Public Prosecutor When I assumed this Office in 2012, In my role as the Public Prosecutor, I have The launch of the groundbreaking Code of I emphasised the importance of set in place various internal best practices to Practice for the Conduct of Criminal consistency, continuity and stability. To guide the work of my officers in the Crime Proceedings in March 2013 also bore me, these were the touchstones of my Divisions of AGC. Their work in the testimony to the close working relationship term in office that would be critical administration of criminal justice directly that has developed between my officers and to the Attorney-General’s Chambers’ impacts the lives of victims, witnesses, the Criminal Bar. This Code is a joint (AGC) mission to further the rule of suspects, accused persons, their families, and commitment by the Prosecution and the law and constitutional government in the general public. It is therefore vital for Criminal Bar to tap on our collective best Singapore; enhance good public prosecutorial discretion to be exercised in practices so as to align and enhance the administration; and protect the interests a clear and consistent manner, while being standards for advocacy and ethics in criminal of the State and of the people. mindful of the specific and unique facts of proceedings at the pre-trial, trial and post-trial each case. The constant updating of our stages. It is a clarion call to the Prosecution It is therefore not surprising that my internal prosecutorial guidelines, the and Defence alike as to the professional first year in office marked a time of consolidation of our internal sentencing standards that they should continually and consolidation of the policies and reforms databases and the formation of specialist consistently uphold in the criminal justice introduced by my predecessor, the teams to handle particularly sensitive cases process. We will continue to review and revise present Chief Justice, which I aligned are examples of such best practices that will this Code as appropriate and look forward to with my own vision for AGC. take us yet another step forward in meeting more collaborative opportunities with the these goals. Criminal Bar in time to come. 2 ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S CHAMBERS Annual Report 2013/2014 ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S CHAMBERS Annual Report 2013/2014 3 Apart from my best endeavours to cement are well aware of the need to continually Under my watch, the Legislation and Law Reform In Parting AGC’s ties with partner agencies and other advance their legal knowledge and skills, and Division (LLRD) remains unrelenting in its It is only fitting that I record my gratitude to stakeholders of the criminal justice system, to specialise in areas that are beneficial to worthy pursuit of continued accessibility to Mrs Koh Juat Jong SC who retired as the I have been steadfast in promoting our their work and professional development. our laws through its Plain Laws Understandable Solicitor-General on 1 February 2014. During engagement with the public. Over time, I Together with the Solicitor-General, the by Singaporeans (PLUS) Project. This formidable her years in office, her mentorship and tireless demystified the Office of the Public Deputy Solicitor-General and my Heads of Project will incorporate survey feedback dedication to public service was a constant Prosecutor by delivering a number of Departments, I have made sure that local and collected from stakeholders of the legislative source of support and inspiration for us all. addresses relating to my role as the overseas training opportunities are made process, in a bid by LLRD to modernise and That we are an institution with top quality Public Prosecutor and issuing press available throughout the organisation to simplify the manner by which legislation is officers and resources is, in no small part, due statements to explain AGC’s position in cater for my officers’ wide-ranging training presented and drafted by AGC. The PLUS to her immeasurable contributions. Mrs Koh’s certain cases. needs. Project will further ensure that the laws successor, Mr Lionel Yee SC, is no stranger of Singapore continue to be readily to AGC. He shares in the vision for AGC to Given the particular interest which the I am delighted that Civil Division has understandable by all for a long time to maintain its sterling reputation as an institution public has in criminal cases, and the speed embarked, during my term in office, on a come. I understand that AG Chan had, as far of excellence and will continue to provide and abundance at which information (and considerable expansion of its role by taking back as 17 years ago, propounded a similar stalwart leadership in the face of change. misinformation) is disseminated through social on all judicial review cases against statutory vision for the legislative department of the day, media, I set up a dedicated Media Relations boards and civil penalty cases enforced by and I am heartened that the PLUS Project is Even as I close this chapter of my term in Unit within AGC and staffed it with the Monetary Authority of Singapore under another key initiative that will foster continuity office, there is still more to be done; indeed, professionals of high calibre to ensure Part XII of the Securities and Futures Act. for AGC’s work across the passage of time. there will always be more we can aspire to that AGC is equipped with the resources This is a move which I had championed as achieve as AGC continues to deliver diverse to appropriately engage and educate the it will enable Civil Division to build up its Knowledge Management (KM) but consistent legal services of the highest public. I also gave my full support to the significant expertise in public law and At my first AGC Workplan seminar in 2012, quality. Notwithstanding the ever-increasing launch of the inaugural Public Prosecution securities regulation on a holistic basis, as I emphasised the need to maintain public demands made of my officers to deal with Outreach Programme in October 2013.