Date that sentence begins
318.—(1)  Subject to this Code and any other written law, a sentence of imprisonment, reformative training, corrective training or preventive detention shall take effect from the date it was passed, unless the court passing the sentence or, when there has been an appeal, the appellate court, otherwise directs.
[Act 19 of 2018 wef 31/10/2018]
(2)  To avoid doubt, where a court has directed under subsection (1) that a sentence of imprisonment, reformative training, corrective training or preventive detention is to take effect on a date later than the date the sentence was passed —
(a)the court may under that subsection further direct that the sentence is to take effect on another date; and
(b)the court may release the offender, during the period before the sentence is to take effect, on bail or on the offender’s personal bond.
[Act 19 of 2018 wef 31/10/2018]
(3)  To avoid doubt, a court may under subsection (1) direct that a sentence of imprisonment, reformative training, corrective training or preventive detention is to take effect on a date earlier than the date the sentence is passed.
[Act 19 of 2018 wef 31/10/2018]
(4)  Where an offender has been remanded in custody, or remanded in a psychiatric institution (whether for observation or otherwise) under Division 5 of Part XIII, for an offence, a court must consider directing that a sentence of imprisonment, reformative training, corrective training or preventive detention, which is to be imposed for that offence, is to take effect on a date earlier than the date the sentence is passed.
[Act 19 of 2018 wef 31/10/2018]
(5)  Before directing the date on which a sentence of imprisonment, reformative training, corrective training or preventive detention, which is to be imposed for an offence, is to take effect, a court must consider all the circumstances of the case, including the following matters:
(a)the date on which the offender was arrested for the offence;
(b)the length of the period (if any) during which the offender was remanded in custody in relation to the offence;
(c)the length of the period (if any) during which the offender was remanded in a psychiatric institution (whether for observation or otherwise) under Division 5 of Part XIII in relation to the offence;
(d)the length of the period (if any), after the offender was arrested for the offence, during which the offender was not in custody.
[Act 19 of 2018 wef 31/10/2018]