Criminal Trials in Singapore

Usually, the offenses like murder, assault, arms offenses, drug trafficking and bodily intercourse are tried by the High Court in its jurisdiction are considered as more genuine offenses.

Such offenses are liable to a judicial trial and categorized into capital and non-capital cases. Where a person is accused of a capital offense, he/she can request to the High Court for a lawyer to defend him, only if he is not in a condition to afford. In such cases, two attorneys will be relegated to defend the accused, and the legal counselor's expenses will be borne by the State. Where a denounced is accused of a non-capital offense, the charged may apply for lawful help under the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme (CLAS) regulated by the Law Society of Singapore. Below mentioned criminal trials comes under Criminal proceedings in Singapore

(1) Pre-Trial Conferences

When a person is accused of an offense tribal by the High Court, the Court effectively screens the development of the examinations completed and the different proceedings of prosecuting authorities for the trial. This all mentoring is performed by the process of pre-trial conferences (PTCs).

Criminal PTCs go to the Deputy Public Prosecutor taking care of the case and the defence counsel. Prosecuting and defence counsel updates the Registrar about the case progress at every PTC. The Registrar will then offer headings to guarantee that the both parties continue at a reasonable and speedy way. Criminal PTCs are led to the Supreme Court fortnightly.

(2) Preliminary Inquiries

Once a criminal case is prepared for trial, the Registrar will alter a date for conduction of a Preliminary Inquiry. The significant enactment identifying with Preliminary Inquiries is set out in the Criminal Procedure Code (Cap 68).

The trait of a Preliminary Inquiry is to figure out if there is an adequate confirmation to confer the blamed for trial in the High Court. They are directed by Magistrates by the Subordinate Courts. Since March 1995, Preliminary Inquiries have been directed by Assistant Registrars of the Supreme Court, who is simultaneously named as Magistrates by the Subordinate Courts. The general population may go to Preliminary Inquiries which are held in open court.

 (3) The trial proper

In the event that the charged is submitted for trial in the High Court after a Preliminary Inquiry, he will be remanded in jail pending trial. Bail is accessible just at the tact of the High Court.