K Shanmugam
Singapore
“Bank accounts are frozen when there is reason to suspect that the bank accounts are involved in illicit activities, including money laundering activities.”
“The Singapore Police Force does not track the requested data. Distinguishing artificial intelligence (AI)-generated content typically requires more detailed forensic examination which may not be necessary in every investigation and may also not be conclusive as to whether AI-generative tools were used.”
“The Building and Construction Authority’s Code on Accessibility provides baseline requirements for accessible and inclusive buildings. It stipulates a minimum width of 1.5 metres or 1.8 metres for primary accessible routes, depending on the building type.”
“The Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Driving Licence) Rules under the Road Traffic Act set out the scope of the medical assessment required for motorists aged 65 and above who wish to retain their driving licences.”
“When a Police report has been made, the Police will investigate to determine if a criminal offence has been committed. If there is reasonable suspicion that a case is scam-related, the Police can direct online service providers to restrict Singapore users' access to the relevant online activity under the Online Criminal Harms Act.”
“Through intelligence sharing and coordinated enforcement actions, the cross-border operation disrupted a transnational drug trafficking syndicate and downstream drug trafficking activities, with the UK arresting seven persons so far and further investigations underway.”
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Every one of 4,552 lines we hold for K Shanmugam, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 31 of 92.
“Let me deal with the past first. In 1961, DP for kidnapping was introduced. Three years before, the average was 29 cases per year. Three years after, the average became one case per year. It has remained very low since. Firearms robbery. It was on the rise in the 1970s. In 1973, 174 cases. Government introduced DP in November 1973. The number of firearms offences immediately fell by 39% in 1974 to 106 cases and continued to decline in subsequent years, ever lower. Firearms offences remain very rare today in Singapore. So, that is a historical perspective and the charts speak for themselves. Let me talk about the current situation. I could go on a little bit about it, but let me just deal with a few short points. It appears to us, specifically in relation to drugs, that our position on drugs, including imposing the DP is well known in some of our neighbouring regions and that has contributed to a strong deterrent effect. MHA specifically commissioned a study on persons from parts of the region outside Singapore. These are places from where most of our arrested drug traffickers have come from in recent years. We wanted to get a sense of what people in these places knew and thought. And this is what we found: 82% of respondents believed that DP makes people not to want to commit serious crimes in Singapore. These are not Singaporeans, these are people in the region – 69% believed that the DP is more effective in discouraging people from committing serious crimes, compared to life imprisonment. There are many around the world, some in Singapore, who say: "Well, why do you not replace it with life imprisonment?”
“Criminal justice systems have various objectives. I have spoken before about this. I will mention four today: first, to deter crimes; second, to provide proportionate punishment for offenders; three, to protect public safety; and four, to rehabilitate ex-offenders. How our Government balances these objectives depends on a country’s needs and values. In that context, I want to talk about the death penalty, which I will call DP for short. Annex A sets out the list of offences for which the DP can be imposed.”
“The Court recognised that the Government did this in order to avoid driving a deeper wedge within our society. It also noted that Singapore's approach seeks to keep what to do with section 377A within the democratic space. Socially charged issues such as section 377A call for continued discussion and open-ended resolution within the political domain, where we can forge consensus rather than in win-lose outcomes in Court. In this way, we can accommodate divergent interests, avoid polarisation, facilitate incremental change. Furthermore, the Court highlighted the importance of creating space for peaceful coexistence among the various groups, especially since the balance between the various interests around section 377A has grown more delicate. These opinions align with the approach that the Government has taken in dealing with section 377A and that it intends to take as it considers the changes in our social landscape since 2007. I will now move on to the rest of my Committee of Supply (COS) speech. I will focus on two issues – the death penalty and our approach to rehabilitation. My colleagues from MHA will talk about MHA's plans, new capabilities, use of technology, tackling drug abuse and the fight against scams. 4.00 pm Mdm Chairman, with your permission, may I distribute the Annexes to the Members of the House?”
“One of the things that upsets the LGBTQ+ community is that many feel that their experience of being hurt or rejected by their families, friends, schools and companies is not recognised, indeed, often denied. At the same time, a large majority want to preserve the overall tone of our society, in particular, the traditional view of marriage as being between a man and a woman, and their children should be raised within such a family structure. Their concern is not section 377A per se but the broader issues of marriage and family. Many amongst this group also support decriminalising homosexual sex between men. Both these viewpoints are valid and important. Policies need to evolve to keep abreast of such changes in views and legislation needs to evolve to support updated policies. The Government is considering the best way forward. We must respect the different viewpoints, consider them carefully, talk to the different groups and if and when we decide to move, we will do so in a way that continues to balance between these different viewpoints and avoids causing a sudden destabilising change in social norms and public expectations. If you look at successive Court judgments over the years, the Courts have consistently taken the position that these are highly contentious social issues and within the province of Parliament. The heterosexual stable family remains the social norm and the current legal position reflects our society's norms, values and attitudes. That is what the Courts have said. In this latest judgment, the Court noted the compromise which Singapore has struck in respect of section 377A is unique. Our approach strikes a balance between preserving the legislative status quo whilst accommodating the concerns of those directly affected by the legislation.”
“Thank you, Mdm Chairman. I thank the hon Members for their comments. I will first address Mr Derrick Goh's question about the recent Court of Appeals' judgment on the constitutional challenge to section 377A of the Penal Code. AGC is looking at the judgment carefully. The Government has explained its stand. Prime Minister Lee said in Parliament in 2007, when the Penal Code was amended but section 377A was left unchanged, that we want to be "a stable society with traditional heterosexual family values but with space for homosexuals to live their lives and to contribute to society." He added, "Among them are some of our friends, our relatives, our colleagues, our brothers and sisters or some of our children. Our kith and kin." This remains our stand today. These are deeply divisive issues. That is why we take a "live and let live" approach. We seek to be an inclusive society where mutual respect and tolerance for different views and practices are paramount. The Government has thus taken the approach that while section 377A remains on the books, there will be no proactive enforcement. And AGC takes a similar approach. We expressly included in the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act (MRHA) that any attack on LGBTQ+ groups or on persons because they are LGBTQ+ will be an offence and will not be tolerated. LGBTQ+ individuals are entitled to live peacefully without being attacked or threatened. Likewise, any attack on any other group based on their religion or religious beliefs, even if those beliefs run counter to values held by LGBTQ+ groups, will not be acceptable. So, our emphasis on gradual evolution and traditional families remain constant. However, since this issue was last discussed in Parliament in 2007, social attitudes towards homosexuality have gradually shifted.”
“The Legal Aid Bureau (LAB) provides legal advice and legal assistance on civil matters to Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents who pass the means test. Applicants for legal aid also have to pass a merits test. The statistics on the applications LAB received between 2017 and 2021 in respect of applications to appoint a deputy under the Mental Capacity Act are provided in the table below. Applicants who do not qualify for legal aid may engage a private lawyer. They may also seek help from the Law Society Pro Bono Services, the Community Justice Centre and more than 50 other legal clinics run by various community, religious and voluntary welfare organisations. Litigants-in-persons may apply online for urgent short-term orders (limited to $5,000) and long-term orders up to $80,000 that fall under the Mental Capacity Act simplified track via the Family Integrated Application Management Systems (iFAMs).”
“The Legal Aid Bureau (LAB) provides legal advice and legal assistance on civil matters to Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents who pass the means test. Applicants for legal aid also have to pass a merits test. The statistics on the applications LAB received between 2017 and 2021 in respect of grants of probate or letters of administration are provided in the table below. Applicants who do not qualify for legal aid may engage a private lawyer. They may also seek help from the Law Society Pro Bono Services, the Community Justice Centre and more than 50 other legal clinics run by various community, religious and voluntary welfare organisations.”
“The Debt Repayment Scheme (DRS) is a pre-bankruptcy scheme administered by the Official Assignee. Debtors with unsecured debts not exceeding $150,000 will be able to avoid bankruptcy by entering into a debt repayment plan under the DRS, which requires them to make monthly debt repayments to their creditors. However, if they are unable to meet stipulated monthly debt repayments over a period of time, they will be exited from the DRS arrangement and may eventually be adjudged a bankrupt. Since implementation, the DRS take-up has steadily increased. In the last five years: (a) the annual number of people placed under the DRS according to the commencement year (CY); and (b) the percentage of these people who were not able to meet their monthly debt repayments and therefore had to be exited from the DRS, are set out in the table below. Cases that commenced earlier show a higher exit rate as they have been in progress for a longer period of time. The tapering off of the COVID-19 financial relief measures and the increase in maximum debt threshold for the DRS are likely contributing factors to the increase in cases under the DRS in 2021.”
“If additional support is needed to address their social and emotional needs, Family Service Centres (FSCs) could come in to provide case management and coordinate support from other agencies. These centres are able to provide support and assistance to the inmate and the family even after the inmate's release.”
“The Ministry does not track the divorce rates of inmates and ex-offenders. We also do not have data on whether there is any correlation of divorce rates with recidivism. We do know generally, however, that marital relationships may be strained due to the incarceration of a spouse, and this may increase the risk of recidivism. The Singapore Prison Service (SPS) therefore collaborates with community partners and Government agencies to identify and assist inmates who may require support in their marital relationship. SPS engages social service agencies to deliver family programmes to help inmates to maintain their relationships with their family members, including their spouse. For example, under the Family Reintegration Programme, there is a structured session where the inmates and their spouse or family members come together to apply what they have learnt. This helps to mend or strengthen the relationships. Through this programme, the spouses also learn how to better support their loved ones in their rehabilitation. SPS also collaborates with community partners like The Salvation Army and Centre for Fathering to run group family and marital therapy programmes, support groups, as well as video conferencing for inmates and their family. During prison officers' regular engagements with inmates, the inmates may surface the challenges they face, such as marital issues, to the officers. Where required, a referral will be made to the SPS's Family Resource Centres (FRCs) for further assessment. If an inmate's spouse is assessed to require marital counselling, a referral can be made to Strengthening Families Programme@Family Service Centres (FAM@FSCs) agencies funded by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF).”
“It is also affected by the risk profile of the ex-offenders, which would differ from cohort to cohort. The five-year recidivism rate, was at 41.1% for the 2016 cohort, compared to 23.7% for the two-year recidivism rate for the same cohort. The five-year recidivism rate has dropped slightly over the years, from 43.2% for the 2012 cohort, to 41.1% for the 2016 cohort. SPS is studying whether it will be possible to bring down the five-year recidivism rate further. This is challenging because, in the end, it depends on a variety of factors. Some of them include: the level of support the releasee gets from family, his/her own ability to integrate into society, keep a job, the influences on the releasees, and other similar factors. Around the world this is a challenge.”
“The latest two-year recidivism rate, for the cohort of ex-offenders released in 2019, was 20%. This was the lowest in the last 30 years. There has been a general downward trend in the two-year recidivism rate, which fell from 27.6% for the 2012 cohort, to 20% for the 2019 cohort. The improvement in the recidivism rate has been achieved through the joint efforts of Singapore Prison Service (SPS), Yellow Ribbon Singapore (YRSG), and their community partners. Several new programmes have been introduced in the last few years. An example is the Enhanced Drug Rehabilitation Regime introduced in 2014, for first- and second-time drug abusers, which enhanced rehabilitative interventions for these drug abusers. The Mandatory Aftercare Scheme was also operationalised in 2014, where higher-risk ex-offenders were given more interventions and support. The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) enhanced its drug supervision regime in 2019. For drug supervisees deemed to be at higher risk of relapsing, the maximum duration of supervision in the community was increased from two years to up to five years. Community partners and volunteers also have been a key pillar of support in this journey. An example is the Throughcare Volunteer Framework recently introduced in 2019. Volunteers build rapport with inmates through various interest-based activities such as tea appreciation and craftwork in prison. These volunteers continue to befriend them after their release and connect them to wider networks and communities of support outside of prison. Although there has been a general downward trend, the recidivism rate may fluctuate from year to year, as it is influenced by many factors such as the level of community and family support for ex-offenders.”
“The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has no plans to waive the passport renewal fee for those who renewed their passport before October 2021. The ICA had announced the 10-year passport on 7 May 2021, five months ahead of its introduction on 1 October 2021. The early announcement was to provide Singaporeans with sufficient time to plan ahead for their passport renewal, and make an informed decision whether to renew their passport before or after October 2021. The fee for the new 10-year validity passport has been kept unchanged at $70 for applications which are made online. In addition, Singaporeans are now able to enjoy the convenience of collecting their renewed passport at designated SingPost outlets across Singapore, with the ICA absorbing the collection fee.”
“A total of 448 applications to the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunal (CDRT) were filed from 2020 to 2021, with 211 applications filed in 2020 and 237 applications filed in 2021. Of the 448 applications filed, 102 applications involved applicants who had attended mediation at the Community Mediation Centre (CMC) in the six months prior to filing the CDRT application. This is based on applicants' responses as recorded in the pre-filing assessment that takes place before they file a CDRT application. Applicants may have attended mediation with their respondents at other venues apart from CMC, but such data is unavailable. As at 31 December 2021, 383 of the 448 applications have concluded. The outcomes of the 383 concluded applications are set out as follows: (a) 51 consent orders (that is, orders where parties agree to an order granted by the CDRT either at the pre-trial or trial stage), 22 default orders (that is, orders granted in the absence of the respondent) and 17 adjudicated orders (that is, orders granted after a hearing or trial on the merits of the case) were granted by the CDRT. (b) The remaining 293 applications were either withdrawn or discontinued by the applicant, or dismissed by the CDRT.”
“Between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2021, five persons were convicted of the offence of intentional murder within the meaning of section 300(a) of the Penal Code and sentenced to death. In the same period, 15 persons were convicted of and sentenced based on the other categories of murder within the meanings of sections 300(b) to 300(d) of the Penal Code. Among them, one was sentenced to death and the other 14 were sentenced to life imprisonment.”
“From 1 January 2013 to 11 February 2022, out of 104 accused persons with convictions for capital offences of trafficking, importing or exporting controlled drugs that remained unchanged after appeal or review (as the case may be), and whom the Court found to be "couriers" within the meaning of sections 33B(2)(a) and 33B(3)(a) of the Misuse of Drugs Act, the Public Prosecutor has certified to the Court pursuant to section 33B(2)(b) of the Act that 82 substantively assisted the Central Narcotics Bureau in disrupting drug trafficking activities within or outside Singapore, and has declined to do so for the other 22. For each of the 82 accused persons who were "couriers" and who provided substantive assistance, the Court exercised its discretion to sentence or re-sentence them (as the case may be) to life imprisonment with, where applicable, caning. Out of the 22 accused persons who were "couriers" but did not provide substantive assistance, the Court imposed or upheld the imposition of (as the case may be) the mandatory death penalty on 14 persons. The other eight were sentenced or re-sentenced (as the case may be) to life imprisonment as the Court found that they were suffering from an abnormality of mind within the meaning of section 33B(3)(b) of the Act.”
“The number of fire fatalities has remained low over the past five years. All the fire fatalities, except one in 2017, were due to fires in residential premises. Table 1 shows the number of fire fatalities from 2017 to 2021 and the breakdown of fire fatalities at residential premises. As the fire safety situation in residential premises is stable, MHA is not extending the Home Fire Alarm Device (HFAD) Assistance Scheme. Instead, the Singapore Civil Defence Force is encouraging unit owners to voluntarily install HFADs as it will provide them with early warning of fires. The Fire Code was also amended in 2018 to require all new residential units and existing units that are undergoing fire safety works to be installed with HFADs.”
“Members of Parliament are high-value targets for foreign agencies as our own experience and the experience of other countries have shown, even as late as last year in Australia and so on. And it is the duty of our security agencies to be very aware of whether Members of Parliament or Ministers or senior civil servants or those around them or their families are being approached or suborned. And it is in the interest of Singapore and the security of Singapore that state agencies are on top of the game. So, I do not intend, in future, to confirm or deny. But I can say specific to the question asked by Ms Lim, I think in the context of the question having been asked, I decided that we will answer this question.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I rise to clarify a question that Ms Sylvia Lim asked. She said that she had received a threat warning from Apple that her phone could be under threat of hacking by state-sponsored agencies and she asked for confirmation that her phone has not been hacked by Singapore state agencies. I think this happened a bit earlier. Sir, I can tell Ms Lim that her phone has not been hacked by Singapore's state agencies in the time available between when she raised it in Parliament and now, in the last "x" number of minutes or so. I speak for agencies under MHA and I had quick check with Security and Intelligence Division (SID). I think if one is serious about such threats, the proper way to do it – if you are serious about finding out whether your phone has been hacked and by whom – is to come to MHA. We will do a thorough investigation. If you raise it in Parliament, then, we must assume the intention is to publicise the fact, rather than actually get to the bottom of it. It is obvious then why it is made public. We would like to see the precise notification from Apple. Is it a general notification that they send to a number of people? Or was it a specific notification? And if it is a specific notification to Ms Lim's phone, MHA will be very interested and particularly with a state-sponsored agency, because this is something that we are extremely concerned about. She is a Member of Parliament. All Members of Parliament are potential targets. And we would like to know and we would like to get to the bottom of it as to who is trying to get into her phone. Also, the normal practice that we take is that we do not confirm or deny. Because Members of Parliament have no immunity in this sense.”
“(c) Simple and cost-effective online filing system: The Integrated Family Application Management System (iFAMS) is an online case application and management system, developed by the Family Justice Courts (FJC) with LIPs in mind. iFAMS supports individuals in preparing maintenance, family violence and simplified deputyship Court applications using template forms, without having to engage a lawyer. We will continue to explore, together with our stakeholders, further efforts to ensure that justice continues to be accessible for all.”
“We do not track the information that the Member has requested. Individuals may have a variety of reasons for choosing to self-represent in family proceedings. My Ministry works closely with the Judiciary and MSF to regularly review family law matters and proceedings and to ensure access to justice, regardless of individual personal circumstances. Over the years, we have implemented several measures to simplify proceedings, minimise protracted and costly disputes, and increase availability and accessibility of information surrounding the legal processes. These efforts have made it easier for litigants to represent themselves in family proceedings, if they wish to do so. Some of the initiatives include: (a) Information on how to conduct family proceedings have been made widely available online. These include: (i) the Singapore Courts’ website which provides information about various Court applications, step-by-step instructions on some Court procedures and other useful preparatory resources to help litigants; and (ii) the Legal Aid Bureau’s Intelligent Legal Assistance Bot (iLAB) chatbot which provides basic legal information on family law issues and can generate simple legal documents. (b) The simplified divorce track: Parties who agree on the divorce and ancillary matters prior to the filing of the action can obtain a divorce on a simplified case management track, saving time and cost for parties. Parties can navigate this process on their own, without the need to engage lawyers. The majority of the divorce cases are filed on the simplified track.”
“The number of reports on incidents of road rage and aggressive behaviour involving motor vehicles has decreased from 48 reports in 2019 to 36 reports in 2021. This decrease could be due to multiple reasons, including lower traffic volumes during the pandemic. The number of enforcement actions has decreased as well. In 2019, the Police took action against 21 road rage incidents involving the offence of voluntarily causing harm; while in 2021, the Police took action against 11 such incidents. We are of the view that the current regime sufficiently deters dangerous and anti-social driving behaviour. In 2019, we amended the Road Traffic Act and introduced stiffer penalties to strengthen deterrence against irresponsible driving behaviour. With the changes, those found guilty of Dangerous Driving now face a fine of up to $5,000 or to an imprisonment term of up to 12 months, or both, for a first offence. These penalties are doubled for repeat offenders. Offenders also face stiffer penalties if their driving results in hurt, grievous hurt or death. In 2021, we further amended the Road Traffic Act such that motorists found guilty of any offence under written law in the context of road rage may also be disqualified from driving for life or any period that the Courts think fit. We will monitor the situation and make further adjustments where necessary.”
“To support the application for opening of the account, the applicant would simply need to present the discharge letter and an employment referral letter from YRSG or a letter of employment.”
“Banks may have concerns with account opening requests, if the applicants have been implicated in serious crimes, such as those related to money laundering, loansharking, scams and other financial crimes, and where the banks have difficulty confirming the source of the applicants’ funds. When we receive appeals from ex-offenders who are unable to open bank accounts, the Singapore Prison Service (SPS) and Yellow Ribbon Singapore (YRSG) will refer the cases to the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) for assistance. MAS has been working with the larger retail banks to enhance financial inclusion by opening limited-purpose bank accounts for individuals whom the banks assess pose a higher risk of being implicated in financial crimes. Such limited-purpose accounts allow the individuals to carry out banking transactions for daily needs. We would like to clarify that while credit risk is a consideration for banks in granting credit facilities, such as credit cards, it is, typically, not a consideration for the opening of bank accounts. Based on available records, from 2019 to 2021, YRSG received six requests for assistance from ex-offenders who were unable to open bank accounts. Of these six requests, four were eventually successful. Most ex-offenders have no problems opening bank accounts. SPS has been collaborating with POSB since 2015 to assist ex-offenders in opening and maintaining bank accounts. All local ex-offenders are given a discharge letter issued by SPS, which lists selected POSB branches that they can visit to open a bank account. The service charge that would usually be incurred for not meeting the minimum account balance will be waived for up to a year.”
“This question has been addressed as part of the three Ministerial Statements to be delivered by Minister for Finance and Deputy Chairman of MAS, Lawrence Wong, Minister for Communications and Information and Minister-in-charge of Smart Nation & Cybersecurity, Josephine Teo; and the Minister of State for Home Affairs Desmond Tan, at today’s Sitting.”
“The number of fires in condominiums caused by discarded cigarette butts has remained low in the past three years. There were five, four and four such fires in 2019, 2020 and 2021 respectively. The National Environment Agency takes enforcement action against littering in public places. Many condominiums have also put in place by-laws to prohibit littering within their estate. The Management Corporation Strata Title (MCSTs) may also take steps to pass a special resolution to install surveillance cameras in the common areas of their estate. The Penal Code was amended in 2020 such that should a fire occur within 60 minutes in the vicinity of a place where a person had illegally disposed of a cigarette butt, the person would be presumed to have caused or substantially contributed to the risk of a dangerous fire. Depending on the damage or hurt caused by such a fire, the penalties for this offence include imprisonment of up to seven years, a fine, or both. The Singapore Civil Defence Force also works with Neighbourhood Committees and condominiums’ MCSTs to raise fire safety awareness among the residents.”
“To date, no deferred prosecution agreements (DPAs) have been entered into, since their introduction in 2018. The second part of the Member’s question touches on the exercise of prosecutorial discretion by the Public Prosecutor (PP). Whether the PP issues a conditional warning, enters into a DPA, or takes some other approach, will depend on the PP’s assessment of which option best serves the public interest, based on the specific facts of each case. A conditional warning may be more suitable in cases where the entity had sufficiently addressed the wrongdoing, made restitution or substantial reparations, and had cooperated with law enforcement authorities. On the other hand, a DPA may be more suitable for more complex arrangements, because these are clearly provided for under the statutory framework. For example, the legislation provides that a DPA may require the entity to implement a compliance programme or enhance an existing compliance programme, and to appoint persons to supervise and monitor its internal controls and implementation of the compliance programme. It is not possible to exhaustively describe the considerations, as each case will be assessed on its own facts.”
“The starting point of our current approach is that each company is a separate legal entity and is thus not criminally responsible for the conduct of another. However, depending on the facts of each case, there are other principles that may be relevant. For example, a fraudulent transfer of property with the intention of preventing the property from being taken in satisfaction of a fine under a sentence that has been, or is likely to be, pronounced, may give rise to an offence under section 206 of the Penal Code, which is punishable with imprisonment of up to two years, a fine, or both. This could apply to both the individuals and companies involved in the fraudulent transaction, including the acquiring company. To deter offences by those who are responsible for the company’s acts, the individuals involved in the acquired company may be held criminally liable for the offence. In some instances, this is reinforced by provisions which attribute the company’s criminal liability to its officers or controllers. For example, under section 32(2) of the Precious Stones and Precious Metals (Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing) Act, where a corporation commits an offence under the Act, the officers or individuals involved in management are also liable for the same offence if they, among others, ought reasonably to have known that the offence would be or is being committed and failed to take all reasonable steps to prevent or stop the commission of the offence. Such individuals can still be held to account, as their criminal liability is not affected by the merger and acquisition. We will study these issues further. If the Member has any particular incidents that he has in mind, we invite him to share them with us.”
“LAB provides legal advice, legal assistance and legal aid on civil matters, to Singapore citizens and Permanent Residents with limited means. LAB receives an average of 8,500 applications each year – slightly more than half are for legal advice and assistance, and the remaining for legal aid. Applicants for legal advice or legal assistance have to pass the means test. Applicants for legal aid have to pass both the means test and legal merits test. Unsuccessful applicants may fail the means test or legal merits test, or both. The information on the applications LAB received between 2017 and 2021 are provided in the table below.”
“The Legal Technology Platform (LTP) is a legal matters management tool that offers integration with commonly-used legal technology solutions, such as for document management, practice management and so on. The Ministry is working with a technology provider on the integration of its base platform with these solutions, as well as Singapore-specific features that are co-developed with the industry. Through this initiative, law firms can look forward to greater convenience, seamlessness and support in their journey of technology adoption, enabling them to more efficiently and effectively manage their matters digitally. The Government has set aside about $11 million for the first two phases of development of the Singapore-specific features of LTP and its integration with commonly-used solutions. The project is currently in the first phase of development and about half of this amount has been incurred to date. Beyond the development cost, the Ministry is exploring grants to defray the subscription cost of LTP and selected LTP-integrated solutions for the early adopters. The LTP is expected to be launched in the second quarter of this year, after the first phase of development is complete. The LTP aims to onboard 1,300 users from small and medium-sized Singapore law practices within the first three years of its launch. Past legal technology initiatives have shown that it will take time to generate sufficient industry take-up. We will continue to work with the industry after launch to improve the platform and add more features in the second phase of development.”
“This question will be addressed as part of the three Ministerial Statements to be delivered by the Minister for Finance and Deputy Chairman of MAS, Lawrence Wong; the Minister for Communications and Information & Minister-in-charge of Smart Nation & Cybersecurity, Josephine Teo; and the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Desmond Tan, at tomorrow's Sitting.”
“There were 102, 42 and 32 fires involving PMDs in 2019, 2020 and 2021, respectively. Most of these fires involved unregistered PMDs, which accounted for 66, 26 and 24 fires in 2019, 2020 and 2021, respectively. SCDF and LTA co-chair the inter-agency Active Mobility Fire Safety Taskforce. The task force has successfully reduced the number of PMD-related fires over the past years through public education and regulatory controls. For example, the task force encourages the disposal of unregistered PMDs. It works with community partners to broadcast safety messages and conducts targeted outreach with industry stakeholders. In addition, LTA has prohibited the use of unregistered PMDs on public paths, introduced an inspection regime for PMDs and banned the import of non-compliant PMDs into Singapore, except for certain legitimate uses, such as research or re-export. The task force will continue to work with its partners to further reduce PMD-related fires.”
“There were 5072 missing persons reported to the Police over the past three years, from 2019 to 2021. Of these, about 15% were vulnerable persons, such as young children and elderly persons. Tables 1 and 2 contain a breakdown of the profile of missing persons by age group and ethnicity. We do not track the income level of reported missing persons. When Police receive a report on a missing person, investigations will be conducted to locate the person. Police will interview the person who lodged the report to establish background facts pertaining to the missing person, such as the state of his/her mental health and the circumstances under which he/she was last seen. Police will also disseminate lookout messages for the missing person to all Police resources, especially those within the particular area where the missing person is reasonably believed to be. Police will accord priority to vulnerable missing persons as they may be at higher risk. These include young children, elderly persons, and persons with intellectual disabilities, such as dementia. In addition, Police have established procedures with other Government agencies to get their help to locate missing persons. For example, Police will make enquiries with other Government agencies, such as education institutions, hospitals and MSF. Police may also issue appeals for information to seek the public's assistance. We welcome further suggestions to locate missing persons more effectively.”
“There were about 550 cases of hurt to persons that occurred in migrant worker dormitories from 2020 to 2021. These include cases of affray and rioting involving migrant workers. Police work closely with the dormitory operators on safety and security issues. The operators are required, as part of licensing conditions under MOM, to put in place security arrangements, including access control measures, closed circuit television systems and deployment of security officers. Police also work with the operators to engage dormitory residents on crime prevention and safety and security matters. When Police respond to calls for assistance at dormitories, the officers will assess the situation at the scene and take appropriate actions to preserve order. For instance, where tensions are high, the officers will physically separate the different parties.”
“Sir, thank you for allowing me to make a clarification. In answer to Ms Sylvia Lim's question, I pointed out that the amounts of fine imposed on the two officers are different. They are different. I should clarify that they were calculated by reference to the number of months of increment that they would have gotten. The number of months is the same for both officers, but the amounts they paid are different – and that is the fine that is being imposed. [Please refer to "Update on Internal Investigations into Police Officers Involved in Parti Liyani v PP [2020] SGHC 187 Case", Official Report, 14 February 2022, Vol 95, Issue No 47, Oral Answers to Questions section.]”
“I thank the Member for that question. In context, what happened is that a fine was imposed on them, plus, in addition, a number of months of increment are forgone. So, there were actually two penalties imposed on them. The number of months differs for the two officers but, as I have said, it is at the mid-point of what could have been imposed. And how were the two officers approached? On the respective roles that they played. [Please refer to "Clarification by Minister for Home Affairs", Official Report, 14 February 2022, Vol 95, Issue No 47, Clarification section.]”
“There is only so much more that you can do when your central problem is that there is more work than can reasonably be done by the workforce we have. And I have said we do our best in those circumstances.”
“Thank you, Sir, I will make two points in response. First, we put the officers at the heart of what we do because there is something even more central and fundamental – which is public interest. The officers are there to serve public interest and if public interest is affected in some way, we have to take action. But the institution can only do well if the officers are treated fairly. The officers have to be treated fairly so that they can do their job and so that public interest – which is the fundamental, primary, central goal – is achieved. So, it is not putting officers above the public but serving the public through making sure that there is a strong institution. And in order for there to be a strong institution, there have got to be good officers who know that they will be treated fairly. So, that is the approach. On the second point, how do we take care of the officers, there are many avenues. In every context, there are officers' senior officers who are tasked to take feedback, collect, understand and, in fact, part of leadership, that has to be emphasised – not just in SPF, but in other places, too – is to make sure that the morale of your officers remains high. Surveys – both internal as well as independent – show that the morale of Police officers is high. And public confidence in the Police force, despite some scurrilous attempts by some third parties to continuously run down the Police, remains extremely high. Contrary to the way people perceive police forces in many other parts of the world, the Singapore Police officer is held in very high esteem, very high regard. And we have to continue with that. As to whether we can do more, I have explained the difficulties. The fundamental difficulty is that there are not enough officers.”
“I have spoken before about the workload challenges that Police IOs face. The only way to deal with this is to increase Police's headcount. We have not solved that issue yet. It is a difficult problem and not easily solvable because of the general manpower shortage. In the event, a financial penalty, equivalent to the medium range, was imposed on both officers for neglect of duty. The Public Service Commission, as the authority for disciplinary control of civil servants, has concurred with the penalty imposed on both officers. As I said, the two Police officers were doing their jobs under difficult circumstances and, up until this incident, they have discharged their duties dutifully. I have sympathy for the situation that they find themselves in. But they have fallen short of expectations, and they have been dealt with in the way other officers would have been dealt with in similar circumstances.”
“And the officers must know that action will be taken against them, only if there are discipline issues or misconduct, or some breach. The management culture, all the way from the top, must be that we ask that the matter be dealt with fairly, be prepared to explain in public what action is fair and why. The investigations in this case found that both the IO and his supervisor had neglected their duties. Neglect of duty means the failure to take proper action to perform a required task. The penalty for neglect of duty depends on the officers' degree of culpability and the harm caused by their actions. Penalties can range from a reprimand, or financial penalty, to demotion and dismissal from service. The maximum financial penalty imposed under the Public Service Commission (Delegation of Disciplinary Functions) Directions is a fine equivalent to the stoppage of increment for two years. There are, of course, other more severe penalties possible, under legislation, and that really depends on the conduct. The IO who handled the Police report handled it as a routine theft case; and it was so. But there were some lapses. The lapses include the following. First, the IO did not visit the scene of crime promptly to carry out investigation and gather evidence. This contributed to a break in the chain of custody for some exhibits. Second, the IO did not properly verify some of the claims made by the parties during the investigation. Third, his supervisor did not provide sufficient guidance, which contributed to the lapses. The IAO also took into account the intense pressure that the IO was working under. He was handling many ongoing investigations, prosecutions and conducting arrest operations at the same time.”
“I thank the Member for the question. In respect of the case, the Police's Internal Affairs Office (IAO) has completed its internal investigations relating to the Police Investigation Officer (IO) and his supervisor. Generally, the IAO will take this approach: one, look at the facts of the case, the actions of the officers involved, how they have handled any lapses; two, listen to the explanations given by the officers; and three, assess and recommend the disciplinary action, if any, to be taken. When the IAO started its investigations against the two officers, I made clear the following two points, which I have made in the past in the House as well as outside. First, our approach must always be to do our duty, conduct investigations without fear or favour. Second, at the same time, we do not look to scapegoat or act unfairly. We do not go out to blame and punish, just because there has been a lot of public interest in the matter and because some call for heavy punishment. We must deal with this case as we would deal with any other case, regardless of publicity. We must deal with it professionally and properly. This is important for the public and the Police to know. Police officers have to often exercise their judgement and discretion in the course of their duties – sometimes on an urgent basis but always under some sort of pressure. We want our Police officers to be confident in exercising their discretion, when they are performing their duties. We cannot fault officers, just because we think, with the benefit of hindsight, that we would have exercised our discretion differently in their situation or just because we do not agree with their judgement or exercise of discretion.”
“In 2021, iLAB registered a total of 47,579 queries in 3,408 sessions, and an average of about 240 users per month. It has received good feedback, averaging four out of five stars in post-usage surveys. LAB has been working with various organisations such as the Community Justice Centre (CJC), the Law Society Pro Bono Services (LSPBS) and various social agencies, including PAVE, Star Shelter, Big Love and Heart@Feiyue to promote the use of iLAB. To improve the effectiveness of iLAB, LAB has been increasing the topics covered to make it more useful. At launch, iLAB covered Divorce, Family Violence, Custody and Guardianship, Maintenance and COVID-19 legal issues. Since then, two more topics – Deed of Separation, and Deputyship – were added in December 2021. The Deed of Separation module also includes a basic Deed of Separation generation tool. Another topic, Monetary Claims, will be added by Q1 2022.”
“In deciding whether to waive part or all of the prescribed Means Test requirements, the Minister or the Means Test Panel considers whether the applicant can afford the legal fees on their own, without causing significant hardship to themselves or their family. Examples of the factors considered include: (a) Whether the applicant or dependents currently have or will have unmet basic needs, such as food, shelter or healthcare, if they are to spend their income or assets on legal fees; (b) Whether the applicant’s inability to meet basic needs is due to serious and long-term reasons such as health and caregiving obligations; and (c) Whether the applicant receives or is likely to receive sufficient support from other sources such as family members and other aid schemes. Since its inception in 2019, the Panel has waived the requirements for five out of seven appeals received. The approved cases involved applicants who faced serious and long-term financial challenges, such as poor health or caregiving responsibilities. Of the five cases, two eventually did not proceed with their applications. So far, there has been no necessity for the Minister to exercise his power to grant discretion as there has been no appeals to the Minister.”
“The Organised Crime Act (OCA) was enacted to strengthen the ability of our law enforcement agencies to deal with criminal syndicates. Criminal syndicates often operate across borders. Therefore, our approach towards organised syndicates has also taken into account international practices. Under the OCA, it is an offence to be a member of an Organised Criminal Group, which is defined as a group that comprises at least three persons, and has as one of its objectives, the obtaining of material financial benefits from the facilitation or commission of any serious offence listed in the Schedule to the OCA. The United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, to which Singapore is a signatory, also defines an organised criminal group as three persons or more. Other jurisdictions, such as Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom also define an organised criminal group as one which comprises three or more persons.”
“The Member had raised this issue last year during the Second Reading of the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill. MHA had replied that we would review it with MOT. Currently, the Penal Code allows us to take vehicle owners to task, if their negligence in maintaining their vehicle led to fatal or injury-causing accidents. For the liability to attach, the negligence must be the proximate or efficient cause of the accident. This means that if the offender’s negligence in vehicle maintenance was a substantial cause of the accident which led to death or injury, he would be liable for an offence. MHA is of the view that the current threshold is a fair one. We should only attach criminal liability if we can prove that the offender was negligent in maintaining his vehicle, and that this in turn caused the accident. The Member may also wish to note that the large majority of road traffic accidents involving fatalities or injuries are caused by behavioural factors, such as dangerous driving, careless driving, or driving under the influence of alcohol, rather than poorly maintained vehicles. This is because we have a robust regulatory regime in place to ensure that vehicles are maintained in roadworthy condition. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) requires all vehicles to be regularly inspected at LTA-Authorised Inspection Centres. These inspections are comprehensive, covering key vehicle components and systems including brakes, steering, tyres and exhaust systems. We thank the Member for raising this suggestion, and will continue to monitor the road traffic situation.”
“If a deal appears too good to be true, it could be a scam.”
“The Police received multiple reports in December 2021 regarding two separate series of e-commerce scams involving non-fulfilment of hotel room bookings after payment was made. A 45-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman have been arrested for their suspected involvement in these scams. Investigations are ongoing. Since 2020, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) has worked with Carousell to combat hotel room reservation scams, specifically by including a scam prevention advisory in Carousell’s in-platform chat function for users, for listings related to hotel room and staycation reservations. In addition, SPF, together with the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC), continue to post and share advisories on Facebook to alert the public to be vigilant of hotel room reservation scams, especially during the school holiday season. Over the course of 2021, the SPF and the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) have engaged various content creators such as SGAG, King Kong Media, Double Up, and Woke Salaryman to highlight scams of concern such as job scams and loan scams. Most recently, NCPC engaged local filmmaker Royston Tan to produce a television commercial on job scams. The Police also conduct regular engagement and outreach efforts to share crime prevention tips with members of the public. Through our anti-scam campaign called 'Spot the Signs. Stop the Crimes.', SPF and NCPC issue regular crime alerts and advice on the latest scam trends. Ultimately, however, the best defence against scams is a vigilant and discerning public. In the context of e-commerce transactions, we urge the public to practise healthy skepticism, and to verify the legitimacy of online sellers, such as by checking the seller’s track record, reliability and reviews, before making payment.”
“As at November 2021, 70% of ICA-issued Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) and Long-Term Visit Pass Plus (LTVP+) holders are female, and 30% are male. Sixteen percent of all ICA-issued LTVP and LTVP+ holders are employed in Singapore. Having a LTVP/LTVP+ does not confer automatic rights to work in Singapore. Only LTVP/LTVP+ holders that have a Letter of Consent (LOC), Pre-Approved Letter of Consent (PLOC), or a regular work pass, can work in Singapore. The eligibility of LOC, PLOC and regular work passes can be found on MOM's website”
“From December 2017 to November 2021, the Traffic Police (TP) detected 112,331 traffic violations by foreign-registered vehicles. Of these, 107,071 were compounded, while the rest were issued with court summonses. Seventy-six percent (81,838) of the composition fines issued during this period remain unpaid. There are challenges in ensuring that fines issued for offences committed by foreign vehicles are paid, because they are outside our jurisdiction. To address this, foreign-registered vehicles with a certain threshold of outstanding vehicular-related fines are denied entry into Singapore. These outstanding composition sums or court fines will have to be paid before the foreign-registered vehicles are allowed entry.”
“From its launch in November 2020, to 31 December 2021, about 229,000 users have downloaded the ScamShield app. During this period, 3.4 million calls and SMSes were reported as potential scams. Eight-seven percent were detected by the ScamShield app; the rest were reported by the users through the ScamShield app. ScamShield is currently only available on the iOS platform. While we had earlier announced that the Android version would be available in end-2021, timelines have been slightly delayed as GovTech had to reprioritise resources towards supporting the whole-of-Government response to COVID-19. The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) and GovTech are working to launch the Android version of ScamShield in the first half of this year instead. We encourage the public to make full use of the ScamShield app to protect themselves from scams.”