...Division 1 - Arrest without warrant...
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...Division 2 - Arrest with warrant...
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Notification of content of warrant
The police officer or other person executing an arrest warrant must inform the arrested person of the content of the warrant and, if required, show him or her the warrant or a copy of it.
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Setting aside search warrant
A court issuing a search warrant may suspend or cancel the warrant if there are good reasons to do so.
Where a search warrant is suspended or cancelled, the court must as soon as is reasonably practicable, inform the person or persons to whom the search warrant is issued of the suspension or cancellation.
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Arrest of person subject to warrant
A person subject to an arrest warrant may be arrested by a person authorised to execute the warrant or by a police officer.
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...Division 3 - General provisions for arrests with or without warrant...
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Assisting person other than police officer to execute warrant
If a warrant is granted to a person who is not a police officer, any other person may help in executing the warrant if the person to whom the warrant is granted is near at hand and engaged in executing it.
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Execution of search warrant
The person granted a search warrant must conduct the search in accordance with the warrant and with this Code.
Entry and search under a search warrant must be conducted during such period of time as may be specified in the warrant.
If the occupier of a place to be entered and searched is present when the person granted the search warrant seeks to execute it, the person granted the warrant must —
identify himself or herself to the occupier and —
if he or she is a police officer, show the occupier documentary evidence that he or she is such a police officer; or
if he or she is not a police officer, show the occupier his or her original identity card or travel document as proof of his or her identity;
show the occupier the warrant; and
if requested, give the occupier a copy of the warrant.
If the occupier is not present when the person granted the search warrant seeks to execute it, but some other person who appears to be in charge of the place is present, then subsection (3) applies to that other person as if that other person were the occupier.
If a search warrant is issued by a court under section 26(3), the person issued the warrant must, after duly executing the warrant, report that fact to the court and submit the list prepared under section 37(1).
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Court may endorse on warrant security to be taken
A court issuing an arrest warrant may direct by endorsement on the warrant that, if the person subject to the arrest warrant executes a bond with sufficient sureties for the person's attendance at the next sitting of the court after the day of arrest and at every subsequent sitting until the court directs otherwise, then the person to whom the warrant is directed must take such security and release the person subject to the arrest warrant from custody.
The endorsement must state —
the number of sureties; and
the amount that the sureties and the person subject to the arrest warrant are respectively bound.
When security is taken under this section, the person to whom the warrant is directed must, when required, send the bond to the court.
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Return of warrant of execution
Where a death sentence has been carried out pursuant to a warrant issued under section 313( i ), the Commissioner of Prisons who carried out the sentence must return the warrant to the court which issued it with an endorsement signed by the Commissioner, certifying that the sentence has been carried out.
1/2014
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Duty of officer to whom order or warrant is addressed
The officer to whom any order for review of detention or warrant is addressed under this Division or under section 98 or 282 must act in accordance with it and must provide for the safe custody of the prisoner during the prisoner's absence from prison for the purpose mentioned in the order or warrant.
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When search warrant issued to person other than police officer
The court must specify the following conditions in every search warrant issued under section 26(3):
a list or description of the documents or things, or class of documents or things, that the person executing the search warrant may seize pursuant to the search;
whether section 31(2) applies, and if so, the extent of its application;
the amount of bond that the person executing the warrant must sign to ensure that the warrant is properly executed and the peace is kept.
The court may, in addition to the conditions in subsection (1), specify in any search warrant issued under section 26(3) such conditions as it deems necessary for the proper execution of the warrant and the prevention of any breach of the peace.
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... column. In the case of many offences punishable by fine the maximum fine is limited by the Penal Code 1871; such offences are in the sixth column marked* .
The entries in the third column of this Schedule are not intended in any way to restrict the powers of arrest without warrant which may be...
... without warrant or not Whether a warrant or a summons shall ordinarily issue in the first instance Whether bailable of right or not Maximum punishment under the Penal Code 1871 By what court triable besides the General Division of High Court CHAPTER 3 — PUNISHMENTS 73 Enhanced penalties for offences alleged to have been committed against domestic workers May arrest without warrant Warrant According as to whether the offence alleged to have been committed... ... May arrest without warrant Warrant According as to whether the offence alleged to have been committed against or in relation to the person is bailable or not Up to twice the punishment provided for the offence Magistrate's Court or District Court 74B Enhanced penalties for offences alleged to have been committed against child below 14 years of age May arrest without warrant Warrant According as to whether the offence alleged to have been committed against or in relation to... ... where no express provision is made for its punishment May arrest without warrant, if arrest for the offence abetted may be made without warrant but not otherwise According as to whether a warrant or summons may issue for the offence abetted According as to whether the... ... abettor May arrest without warrant, if arrest for the offence abetted may be made without warrant but not otherwise According as to whether a warrant or summons may issue for the offence abetted According as to whether the offence abetted is bailable or not The same punishment as for the offence abetted The court by which the offence abetted is triable 111 Abetment of any offence, when one act is abetted and a different act is done; subject to the proviso May arrest without warrant, if arrest for the offence abetted may be made without warrant but not otherwise According as to whether a warrant or summons may issue for the offence abetted According as to whether the offence abetted is bailable or not The same punishment as for the offence intended to be abetted The court by which the offence abetted is triable 113 Abetment of any offence, when an effect is caused by the act abetted different from that intended by the abettor May arrest without warrant, if arrest for the offence abetted may be... |
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Warrant to whom directed
An arrest warrant must ordinarily be directed to the Commissioner of Police or to the head of any law enforcement agency, or any person of a similar rank in a law enforcement agency.
19/2018
An arrest warrant —
if directed to the Commissioner of Police, may be executed by any police officer or any person appointed by the Commissioner of Police; or
if directed to the head of any law enforcement agency, or any person of a similar rank in a law enforcement agency, may be executed by any person appointed by the head or person of a similar rank.
19/2018
The court issuing an arrest warrant may direct it to any person or persons by name or office and such person or persons may execute the warrant.
When an arrest warrant is directed to more than one person, all or any of them may execute it.
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Form of arrest warrant
An arrest warrant issued by a court under this Code must be in writing bearing the seal of the court and signed by a Magistrate or District Judge (as the case may be), or in the case of the General Division of the High Court, by a Judge or by the Registrar of the Supreme Court.
40/2019
The arrest warrant remains in force until it is executed, or cancelled by a court.
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Form of search warrant
A search warrant issued by a court under this Code must be in writing bearing the seal of the court, and signed by a Magistrate or District Judge (as the case may be), or in the case of the General Division of the High Court, by a Judge or by the Registrar of the Supreme Court.
40/2019
A search warrant must ordinarily be issued to the Commissioner of Police and to one or more other police officers to be designated by name in the warrant, and all or any of those police officers may execute it.
The court may in appropriate circumstances issue a search warrant to one or more named persons who are not police officers, and all or any of those persons may execute it.
The court may, if it thinks fit, specify in a search warrant the particular place or part of it to be searched or inspected, and the person charged with executing the warrant must then search or inspect only the specified place or part thereof.
A search warrant is subject to such conditions as may be specified by the court and remains in force for the number of days stated in the warrant.
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Who may issue warrant
A warrant for the execution of any sentence, including an order of attachment of property, may be issued either by the Judge, District Judge or Magistrate who passed the sentence or by his or her successor or other Judge, District Judge or Magistrate acting in his or her place.
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Sentences other than of death
Where an accused is sentenced to imprisonment or to caning, the court must immediately forward a warrant (unless the accused is already confined in prison) stating the name of the accused and sentence to the Commissioner of Prisons or an officer appointed by the Commissioner for that purpose who must receive into his or her custody the person named in the warrant.
1/2014
The warrant is full authority to the Commissioner of Prisons or the officer appointed by the Commissioner for receiving into custody and detaining the accused and carrying out the sentence.
1/2014
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Attendance of prisoner as witness
Where the presence of any person detained in a prison in Singapore is required in any court, that court may issue a warrant addressed to the officer in charge of the prison requiring the officer to produce that person before the court in proper custody at the time and place named in the warrant and from time to time if the hearing is adjourned.
The officer in charge of the prison must have the person named in the warrant brought to court as directed and must arrange for the person's safe custody during his or her absence from prison.
A warrant must bear the seal of the court and be signed by the Registrar of the Supreme Court, Registrar of the State Courts, District Judge or Magistrate, as the case may be.
5/2014
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Service of summons: reciprocal arrangements with Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam
Where under the provisions of any law in force in Malaysia or Brunei Darussalam, a Magistrate or a Magistrate's Court has issued a warrant or summons authorising the arrest of a person or requiring any person to appear before any court in Malaysia or Brunei Darussalam, and that person is or is believed to be in Singapore, a Magistrate in Singapore, if satisfied that the warrant or summons was duly issued in Malaysia or Brunei Darussalam, may endorse the warrant or summons, and the warrant or summons may then be executed or served (as the case may be) on that person as if it were a warrant or summons lawfully issued in Singapore under the provisions of this Code.
Where under the provisions of any law in force in Malaysia or Brunei Darussalam corresponding to subsection (1), a warrant or summons issued by a Magistrate or a Magistrate's Court in Singapore has been endorsed by a Magistrate in Malaysia or Brunei Darussalam and executed or served on the person named in the warrant or summons, the warrant or summons is for the purposes of this Code deemed to have been as validly executed or served as if the execution or service had been effected in Singapore.
Where a warrant has been executed in Singapore pursuant to subsection (1), the person arrested must be produced as soon as possible before a Magistrate in Singapore, who must, if satisfied that the arrested person is the person specified in the warrant, direct that the arrested person be transferred forthwith in custody to the appropriate court in Malaysia or Brunei Darussalam; and any such person is while in such custody deemed for all purposes to be in lawful custody.
Instead of transferring the arrested person in custody to the appropriate court in Malaysia or Brunei Darussalam under subsection (3), the Magistrate may, if the Magistrate is satisfied for reasons to be recorded by him or her that it is in the interests of justice to do so and if the case is one in which bail may lawfully be granted, release the person arrested on bail conditional on the arrested person's appearing before the appropriate court in Malaysia or Brunei Darussalam at a time to be specified in the bond and bail bond.
Where any person has been served with a summons pursuant to subsection (1), the person must attend at the appropriate court at the time specified in the summons, unless the person can satisfy the court that the person cannot reasonably do so.
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Search for person wrongfully confined
A court may issue a search warrant if there is reason to believe that a person is confined under such circumstances that the confinement amounts to an offence.
The police officer or person granted the search warrant may search for the confined person in accordance with the terms of the warrant.
The confined person, if found, must as soon as reasonably practicable, be taken before the court, and the court is to make an order that is appropriate in the circumstances.
If information is given to a police officer that there is reasonable cause for suspecting that any person is unlawfully confined in a place, and the police officer has reason to believe that a delay in obtaining a search warrant is likely to adversely affect the rescue of the confined person or the arrest of the person responsible for confining the confined person, that police officer may immediately proceed to enter and search the place without a search warrant.
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Search of place entered by person sought to be arrested
If a police officer with authority to arrest or a person acting under an arrest warrant has reason to believe that the person to be arrested is inside any place and demands entry to that place, any person residing in or in charge of the place must allow the police officer or person acting under an arrest warrant free entry and provide all reasonable facilities for a search in it.
If entry to that place cannot be gained under subsection (1), it is lawful for a police officer with authority to arrest or a person acting under an arrest warrant to enter and search the place.
In any case in which an arrest warrant may be issued but cannot be obtained without the risk of the person to be arrested escaping, a police officer may enter and search the place.
After stating his or her authority and purpose and demanding entry to a place, a police officer with authority to arrest or a person acting under an arrest warrant who is unable to obtain entry may, for the purposes of subsection (2) or (3), break open any outer or inner door or window or use any other reasonable means to gain such entry.
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Procedure in respect of person subject to order
If the person subject to an order under section 46 is present in court, the order must be read to him or her or, if he or she wishes, explained to him or her.
If the person subject to the order is not present in court, the court must issue a summons requiring the person to appear or, if he or she is in custody, a warrant instructing the officer in whose custody the person is to bring the person before the court.
The court may issue a warrant for a person's arrest if the court is satisfied that, based on a police officer's report or other information, there is reason to fear a breach of the peace and that this can be prevented only by the person's immediate arrest.
A copy of the order under section 46 must accompany every summons or warrant issued under subsection (2) or (3).
The copy of the order must be delivered by the officer serving or executing the summons or warrant to the person served with or arrested under it.
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How arrested person to be dealt with
A police officer making an arrest without warrant must, without unnecessary delay and subject to the provisions of this Code on bail or previous release, take or send the person arrested before a Magistrate's Court.
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Arrested person to be brought before court without delay
Subject to section 72, the police officer or other person executing an arrest warrant must bring the arrested person to the court before which the police officer or other person is required by law to produce the arrested person without unnecessary delay.
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Search of person arrested and his or her premises
Whenever —
a person is arrested by a police officer under a warrant which does not provide for the taking of bail or under a warrant which provides for the taking of bail but the person arrested cannot furnish bail; or
a person is arrested without warrant by a police officer or a private person under a warrant and the person arrested cannot legally be admitted to bail or is unable to furnish bail,
the police officer making the arrest or, when the arrest is made by a private person, the police officer to whom the private person hands over the person arrested, may search the person arrested and place in safe custody all articles other than necessary wearing apparel found upon him or her.
A police officer investigating an arrestable offence under Part 4 may —
enter any place belonging to or under the control of any person who —
is under arrest in connection with the offence;
is reasonably believed to be connected with the offence; or
is reasonably believed to have given shelter to the person under arrest; and
search the place for any evidence of the offence.
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Initiation of criminal proceedings
Criminal proceedings against any person may be initiated pursuant to an arrest, a summons, an arrest warrant, a notice to attend court or any other mode for compelling the attendance of a person in court which is provided for under this Code or any other written law, as the case may be.
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Issue of warrant instead of or in addition to summons
A court in any case in which it is empowered to issue a summons for the appearance of a person may, after recording its reasons in writing, issue a warrant for the person's arrest if —
before or after the issue of the summons but before the time fixed for the person's appearance, the court has reason to believe that the person has absconded or will not obey the summons; or
at such time fixed for the person's appearance, the person fails to appear, and the summons is proved to have been duly served in time to enable the person to appear in accordance with it and no reasonable excuse is offered for such failure.
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Removal of prisoner from one custody to another
Every application to remove a prisoner from one custody to another for the purpose of trial or for any other purpose must be made to the General Division of the High Court and must be supported by an affidavit stating —
where the prisoner is detained in custody;
to what other custody it is proposed to remove the prisoner; and
the reason for the change of custody.
40/2019
If an order is made for the removal of a prisoner from one custody to another for the purpose of trial or for any other purpose, the order must be drawn up with a direction that a warrant must be issued accordingly.
The warrant must be prepared and signed by the Registrar of the Supreme Court and countersigned by the Judge who made the order and sealed with the seal of the Supreme Court.
40/2019
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Person arrested not to be detained more than 48 hours
Unless the court orders otherwise under section 92(3)( a ) or 93(3B)( a ), no police officer may detain in custody a person who has been arrested without a warrant for a longer period than under all the circumstances of the case is reasonable.
19/2018
The period must not exceed 48 hours exclusive of the time necessary for the journey from the place of arrest to the Magistrate's Court.
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When search warrant may be issued
A court may issue a search warrant if —
the court has reason to believe that a person who has been or may be issued an order under section 20(1), (1A), (3) or (3A), or a summons under section 235(1), would not produce any document or other thing (including data), or a copy of the document or thing, as required by the order or summons;
it is not known who possesses that document or thing; or
the court considers that a general or specific search or inspection will serve the purposes of justice or of any investigation, inquiry, trial or other proceeding under this Code.
19/2018
Nothing in this section authorises any court other than the General Division of the High Court to grant a warrant to search for any document or other thing (including data), or any copy of the document or thing, in the custody of the Postal Authority, a public postal licensee or the public parcel locker network operator.
19/2018; 40/2019; 10/2021
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Search without warrant for stolen property
If information is given to any police officer of or above the rank of sergeant that there is reasonable cause for suspecting that any stolen property is concealed or lodged in any place and the police officer has good grounds for believing that by reason of the delay in obtaining a search warrant such property is likely to be removed, he or she may search for the property alleged to have been stolen in the place specified without a search warrant.
A list of all the articles found upon a search conducted under subsection (1) and alleged to have been stolen or missing must be delivered or taken down in writing with a declaration stating that an offence of theft, extortion, robbery, criminal misappropriation, criminal breach of trust or cheating has been committed and that the informant has good grounds for believing that the property is deposited in that place.
The person who lost the property or the person's representative must accompany the officer in the search for that property under subsection (1) unless that person or that person's representative cannot be found without unreasonable delay.
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Court martial
Every application for a prisoner detained in custody to be brought before a court martial for trial must be in the form of a letter addressed by either the registrar of the military courts or the president of that court martial, stating the purpose for which the court martial has been assembled and also stating where the prisoner is detained in custody and when, where and for what purpose the prisoner is required to be produced.
The Registrar of the Supreme Court must submit the letter as soon as possible after the receipt thereof to, and obtain the order thereon of, a Judge.
40/2019
If an order is made under this section, it must be drawn up with a direction that a warrant must be issued accordingly and the warrant must be prepared and signed by the Registrar of the Supreme Court and countersigned by the Judge who made the order and sealed with the seal of the Supreme Court.
40/2019
The warrant when issued must be forwarded by the Registrar of the Supreme Court to the officer in charge of the prison in which the prisoner is confined.
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Power to require attendance of witnesses
In conducting an investigation under this Part, a police officer may issue a written order requiring anyone within the limits of Singapore, who appears to be acquainted with any of the facts and circumstances of the case, to attend before the police officer, and that person must attend as required.
If that person fails to attend as required, the police officer may report the matter to a Magistrate who may then issue a warrant ordering the person to attend.
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Power to pursue and arrest after escape or rescue
If a person in lawful custody escapes or is rescued, the person from whose custody he or she escaped or was rescued, or any police officer, may immediately pursue and arrest him or her for the purpose of returning him or her to the place where he or she was in lawful custody.
Sections 77 and 82 apply to any arrest under subsection (1) even if the person making the arrest is not acting under an arrest warrant and is not a police officer having authority to arrest.
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Application for bail or release on personal bond in General Division of High Court
An application to the General Division of the High Court for bail or release on personal bond must, unless otherwise ordered, be supported by an affidavit stating sufficient facts to enable the court to determine whether or not such bail or release should be granted.
40/2019
If the court orders that the accused or prisoner be granted bail or released on personal bond, the order must be drawn up with a direction that a warrant be issued to bring the accused or the prisoner before the court for the purpose of being bailed or released.
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Provisions as to execution of sentences of death
The following provisions apply to death sentences:
after sentence has been pronounced, a warrant under the seal of the court must be made out for the person sentenced to be committed to the custody of the Commissioner of Prisons in accordance with such prescribed form;
the warrant is full authority to the Commissioner of Prisons, or any officer appointed by the Commissioner of Prisons for that purpose, for receiving into his or her custody and detaining the person sentenced until he or she receives the court's further warrant or order;
the trial Judge who tried the accused must, within a reasonable time after sentence has been pronounced, prepare a copy of the notes of evidence taken at the trial and a report in writing signed by the trial Judge stating whether, in his or her opinion, there is any reason (and, if so, particulars of the reason) why the death sentence should not be carried out;
the trial Judge must forward to the Court of Appeal the notes of evidence and report mentioned in paragraph ( c ), within a reasonable time after being notified by the Registrar of the Supreme Court that a notice of appeal has been given or petition for confirmation has been lodged, as the case may be;
if the Court of Appeal dismisses the appeal or confirms the imposition of the sentence of death, then the Chief Justice or other presiding Judge must, within a reasonable time, forward to the Minister the notes of evidence and report mentioned in paragraph ( c ), stating whether he or she agrees with the trial Judge, together with a notification of the decision of the Court of Appeal and also any report on the case that the Court of Appeal may think fit...
... sentence is to be carried out, cause a warrant to be issued under the seal of the Supreme Court and signed by the Chief Justice or other presiding Judge, or in the absence thereof any other Supreme Court Judge, setting out the time and place of execution as prescribed in the order of the President; the President may, at any time before the warrant is carried out, order a respite of the execution of the warrant and afterwards appoint some other time or other place for its execution; the warrant must be directed to the Commissioner of Prisons who must carry out the sentence in... ... carried out at such other time after the person's recapture that the General Division of the High Court then orders; no omission or error as to time and place and no defect in form in any order or warrant given under this section, and no omission to comply with paragraphs ( j ) to ( n ) may be held to make illegal any execution carried out or intended to have been carried out under the order or warrant or make illegal any execution that would otherwise have been legal. 33/2012; 1/2014; 19/2018; 40/2019 ... |
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When irregularities do not make proceedings invalid
Subject to this Code, any judgment, sentence or order passed or made by a court of competent jurisdiction may not be reversed or altered on account of —
an error, omission or irregularity in the complaint, summons, warrant, charge, judgment or other proceedings before or during trial or in an inquiry or other proceeding under this Code;
the lack of any consent by the Public Prosecutor as required by law; or
the improper admission or rejection of any evidence,
unless the error, omission, improper admission or rejection of evidence, irregularity or lack of consent has caused a failure of justice.
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...Criminal jurisdiction of Magistrates' Courts Subject to this Code, Magistrates' Courts have jurisdiction and power to — try any offence for which the maximum term of imprisonment provided by law does not exceed 5 years or which is a fine-only offence; Deleted by Act 19 of 2018 inquire into a complaint of any offence and summon and examine any witness who may give evidence relating to such offence; summon, apprehend and issue warrants for the apprehension of criminals and offenders, and deal with them according to law; issue a warrant to search or cause to be searched any place wherein any stolen goods or any goods, article or thing with which or in respect of which any offence has been committed is alleged to be kept or concealed; require any person to furnish security for keeping the peace or for the person's good behaviour according to law; and do any other thing that Magistrates' Courts are empowered to do under this Code or any other written law. 19/2018 The jurisdiction and powers conferred on Magistrates' Courts under subsection (1)( a ) must be exercised by a Magistrate sitting in a court house of the Magistrate's Court or at such other place as may be prescribed. 19/2018 The jurisdiction and powers conferred on Magistrates' Courts under subsection (1)( c ) to ( g ) may be exercised by a Magistrate at any place in Singapore. ...
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Search by police officer in arrestable case
A police officer investigating an arrestable offence may, without a search warrant, search or cause a search to be made for a document or other thing in any place if —
the police officer considers the document or thing to be necessary for his or her investigation and if he or she has reason to believe that a person who has been or may be issued with an order under section 20(1) will not or is unlikely to produce the document or thing or give access thereto as directed in the order;
the police officer has reason to believe that the document or thing, which he or she considers to be necessary for his or her investigation, is likely to be removed; or
it is not known who possesses the document or thing which he or she considers to be necessary for his or her investigation.
The police officer in subsection (1) must, if reasonably practicable, conduct the search in person.
A reference to a police officer in this section includes a reference to a forensic specialist acting in the course of his or her duty as such in accordance with the written authorisation of the Commissioner under the Police Force Act 2004 and the lawful directions of the police officer he or she assists.
10/2015
The provisions of this Code relating to searches pursuant to search warrants apply, with the necessary modifications, to a search made under this section.
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Proclamation for person absconding
If a court has reason to believe, whether after taking evidence or not, that a person against whom a warrant of arrest has been issued has absconded or is hiding so that the warrant cannot be executed, the court may publish a written proclamation requiring the person to appear at a specified place and at a specified time not less than 30 days after the date of publication.
The proclamation must be published —
in a daily newspaper;
by leaving a copy of it at the person's last known address;
by affixing a copy of it to any bulletin board in the court house;
by affixing a copy of it to the bulletin board in the office of the Town Council established under section 4 of the Town Councils Act 1988 that is nearest to the person's last known address; or
by affixing a copy of it to a bulletin board of any community centre or clubhouse established under the People's Association Act 1960 that is nearest to the person's last known address.
A statement by the court issuing the proclamation stating that the proclamation was published on a specified day in a specified manner, or on a specified day at a specified place, is conclusive of that fact.
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Exceptions to bail or release on personal bond
An accused must not be released on bail or on personal bond if —
the accused is charged for an offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life;
the accused is accused of any non-bailable offence, and the court believes, on any ground prescribed in the Criminal Procedure Rules, that the accused, if released, will not surrender to custody, be available for investigations or attend court; or
the accused has been arrested or taken into custody under a warrant issued under section 12 or 34 of the Extradition Act 1968 or endorsed under section 33 of that Act.
19/2018
Despite subsection (1), the court may —
direct that any juvenile or any sick or infirm person accused of such an offence be released on bail;
release on bail an accused charged with an offence mentioned in subsection (1)( a ), if —
the offence is also punishable with an alternative punishment other than death or life imprisonment; and
the offence is to be tried before a District Court or a Magistrate's Court; or
release on bail an accused who has been arrested or taken into custody under a warrant mentioned in subsection (1)( c ), if the conditions prescribed in the Criminal Procedure Rules for such release are satisfied.
19/2018
In this section, accused includes a fugitive as defined in the Extradition Act 1968.
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Surety may apply to have bond discharged
A surety may at any time apply to the court to discharge the bond as far as it relates to him or her.
On receiving such an application, the court may issue an arrest warrant directing that the released person be produced before it.
When the released person appears in court under the warrant or voluntarily, the court must direct that the bond be discharged wholly or so far as it relates to the applicant and must call on the released person to provide other sufficient sureties.
A surety may arrest the person for whom he or she stood surety and immediately bring the person before a court, and the court must then discharge the surety's bond and call on the released person to provide other sufficient sureties.
If a released person fails to provide other sufficient sureties when called on to do so under subsection (3) or (4), the court must commit him or her to custody.
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Failure by person released to comply with condition of release order, etc.
This section applies to any person who has been released pursuant to an order under section 249(2) or (9)( c )(ii), 252(6)( b ) or 255(1)( b ) or (8)( b ).
Any police officer may, without a warrant, arrest a person mentioned in subsection (1) who is reasonably suspected —
to have failed to comply with any condition, of the order pursuant to which the person is released, that is imposed on the person; and
to be dangerous to himself or any other person by reason of mental disorder.
The Minister, or a visitor of a psychiatric institution, may apply to a court for a warrant of arrest to be issued against a person mentioned in subsection (1) who is reasonably suspected to have failed to comply with any condition, of the order pursuant to which the person is released, that is imposed on the person.
Sections 67 and 68 do not apply to a person arrested under subsection (2).
Where a person is arrested under subsection (2) or pursuant to a warrant of arrest issued on an application under subsection (3), the person must, as soon as practicable, be produced before a Magistrate's Court.
A police officer must not detain in custody a person who has been arrested under subsection (2) for a longer period than under all the circumstances of the case is reasonable.
The period mentioned in subsection (6) must not exceed 24 hours, exclusive of the time necessary for the journey from the place of arrest to the Magistrate's Court.
Where a person who has been released pursuant to an order under section 249(2) is arrested under subsection (2) or pursuant to a warrant of arrest issued on an application under subsection (3) —
if the Magistrate's Court finds that the person has failed, without reasonable excuse, to comply with any condition of the order that is imposed on the person, the Magistrate's Court must act in accordance with section 249(7) and (8); and
unless the Magistrate's Court makes a finding mentioned in paragraph ( a ) — the Magistrate's Court must release the person.
Where a person who has been released pursuant to an order under section 249(9)( c )(ii), 252(6)( b ) or 255(1)( b ) or (8)( b ) is arrested under subsection (2) or pursuant to a warrant of arrest issued on an application under subsection (3), the Magistrate's Court must —
order that the person be remanded in a psychiatric institution, a prison or any other suitable place of safe custody pending the making of another order by the Minister under section 249(9)( b ) or ( c )(i) or (ii), 252(6)( a ) or ( b ) or 255(1)( b ) or (8)( b ) (as the case may be); and
report the case to the Minister.
Act 19 of 2018 wef 15/11/2022
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When arrest may be made without warrant
Any police officer may, without a warrant, arrest any person who —
has been concerned in an arrestable offence or is reasonably suspected of having been involved in one, or against whom a reasonable complaint has been made or credible information has been received of the person having been so concerned or involved;
possesses a housebreaking tool without being able to provide a lawful excuse for having it;
has been proclaimed as an offender under section 88;
possesses anything that may reasonably be suspected to be stolen or fraudulently obtained property, and who may reasonably be suspected of having committed an offence in acquiring it;
obstructs a police officer while the police officer is doing his or her duty, or has escaped or tries to escape from lawful custody;
is reasonably suspected of being a deserter from any force mentioned in section 140B of the Penal Code 1871 or to which Chapter 7 of that Code may be extended;
is trying to conceal his or her presence in circumstances that suggest he or she is doing so with a view to committing an arrestable offence;
has no apparent means of subsistence or who cannot give a satisfactory account of himself or herself;
is known to be a habitual robber, housebreaker or thief, or a habitual receiver of stolen property knowing it to be stolen, or who is known to habitually commit extortion or to habitually put or attempt to put persons in fear of injury in order to commit extortion;
commits or attempts to commit a breach of the peace in the police officer's presence;
is known to be planning to commit an arrestable offence, if it appears to the police officer that the offence cannot otherwise be prevented;
is subject to police supervision and who has failed to comply with this Code or any other written law; or
has breached any detention order under any written law.
This section does not affect any other law empowering a police officer to arrest without a warrant.
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Person in charge of closed place to allow search
Where a police officer or other person executing any search under this Division demands entry or access to a place liable to search under this Division, the occupier or any person in charge of the place must allow him or her free entry or access and provide all reasonable facilities for a search in it.
If free entry or access to that place cannot be obtained under subsection (1), it is lawful in any case for the police officer or other person executing the search warrant to break open any outer or inner door or window of any place or to use any other reasonable means in order to gain entry or access into the place.
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Inquiry as to truth of information
When an order under section 46 has been read or explained under section 47(1) to a person present in court or when a person appears or is brought before the court in compliance with a summons or in execution of a warrant under section 47, the court must then inquire into the truth of the information on which it has acted and will take further evidence as appears necessary.
The inquiry must follow as closely as practicable the procedure prescribed in this Code for conducting trials, except that no charge need be framed.
For the purposes of this section, a person's habitual offending may be proved by evidence of the person's general reputation or in other ways.
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Discharge of surety
Any surety for the peaceable conduct or good behaviour of a person may at any time apply to a court to cancel any bond executed under this Part.
On receiving the application, the court must issue a summons or warrant, as it thinks fit, requiring the person for whom that surety is bound to appear or to be brought before it.
When that person comes before the court, the court must cancel the bond and order that person to provide adequate security for the remaining term of the bond.
Every such order referred to in subsection (3) is to be treated as made under section 41 or 50 and in such a case, sections 52 to 55 apply accordingly.
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Withdrawal, change of conditions, etc., of bail
If a court has granted bail to a released person and it is shown that —
there has been a material change of circumstances; or
new facts have since come to light,
the court may vary the conditions of the bail or personal bond, or impose further conditions for the bail or the personal bond, or cause the released person to be arrested and may commit him or her to custody.
If, through mistake, fraud or otherwise, insufficient sureties have been accepted or if they afterwards become insufficient, a court may issue an arrest warrant directing that the released person be brought before it and may order him or her to provide sufficient sureties.
If the released person fails to provide sufficient sureties, the court may commit him or her to custody.
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Bond for appearance of complainant and witnesses
If, during or after an investigation under Part 4, a police officer is of the opinion that there is sufficient evidence to justify starting or continuing criminal proceedings for an arrestable offence against a person, the police officer may require any complainant and any or all other persons who may be familiar with the case, to execute a bond to appear before a court and give evidence in the case against the accused.
After the bond has been executed, the police officer must send it to the court.
If the complainant or other person refuses to execute the bond, the police officer must report the matter to the court, and the court may then issue a warrant or summons to secure the attendance of the complainant or person before itself to give evidence in the case against the accused.
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Power to postpone or adjourn proceedings
The court may postpone or adjourn any inquiry, trial or other proceedings on such terms as it thinks fit and for as long as it considers reasonable, if the absence of a witness or any other reasonable cause makes this necessary or advisable.
Subject to subsection (3), if the accused is not on bail, the court may by a warrant remand the accused in custody as it thinks fit.
If it appears likely that further evidence may be obtained by a remand, the court may so remand the accused in custody for the purpose of any investigation by a law enforcement agency but not for more than 8 days at a time.
If the accused is on bail, the court may extend the bail.
The court must record in writing the reasons for the postponement or adjournment of the proceedings.
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Procedure after judgment of appellate court
After hearing the appeal and delivering its judgment, the appellate court must certify its judgment, sentence or order to the trial court which recorded or passed the judgment, sentence or order appealed against.
Where an appeal is not dismissed, the certificate must state the grounds on which the appellate court allowed the appeal or varied the trial court's decision.
The trial court must then make orders that conform to the appellate court's judgment, sentence or order, and, if necessary, amend the record accordingly.
If the appellate court imposes a sentence of imprisonment on a person who was not so sentenced by the trial court, the appellate court must by warrant commit that person to prison in addition to anything else it is required to do by this section and must certify accordingly to the trial court.
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How previous conviction or acquittal may be proved
In any inquiry, trial or other proceeding under this Code, a previous conviction or acquittal or any order of court relevant to the case may be proved, in addition to any other way provided by law —
by an extract certified to be a copy of the sentence or order by the officer who has custody of the records of the court in which that conviction, acquittal or order was carried out, whether in Singapore or elsewhere; or
alternatively —
in the case of a previous conviction in Singapore, either by a certificate signed by the officer who has custody of the records of the prison in Singapore in which the punishment or any part of it was inflicted, or by production of the warrant of commitment under which the punishment was suffered; or
in the case of a previous conviction elsewhere, either by a certificate signed by the officer in charge of the prisons in that place in which the punishment or any part of it was inflicted, or by production of the warrant of commitment under which the punishment was suffered,
together with evidence as to the identity of the accused and the person so convicted or acquitted or against whom the order was made.
The certificate mentioned in subsection (1)( b ) purporting to be signed by the officer who has custody of the records of the prison in Singapore or elsewhere is to be admitted in evidence on its production by the prosecution without proof of signature and, until the contrary is proved, is proof of all matters contained therein.
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Absconding or breaking conditions of bail or personal bond, etc.
If a released person under a duty to surrender to custody, or to make himself or herself available for investigations or to attend court, does not do so, he or she may be arrested without a warrant.
19/2018
If a released person leaves the court at any time after he or she has surrendered into its custody or after he or she has attended court on the day and at the time appointed for him or her to do so, and before the court is ready to begin or to resume the hearing of the proceedings, the court may issue a warrant for his or her arrest.
A released person under a duty to surrender to custody, or to make himself or herself available for investigations or to attend court on the day and at the time and place appointed for him or her to do so, may be arrested without a warrant if —
there are reasonable grounds for believing that he or she is unlikely to surrender to custody, or to make himself or herself available for investigations or to attend court;
there are reasonable grounds for believing that he or she is likely to break or has broken any of the conditions of his or her bail or personal bond; or
any of his or her sureties informs the police or court that the person is unlikely to surrender to custody, or to make himself or herself available for investigations or to attend court and that the surety therefore wishes to be relieved of his or her obligations as a surety.
When such a person is brought before the court pursuant to an arrest under this section and the court thinks that the person —
is unlikely to surrender to custody, or to make himself or herself available for investigations or to attend court; or
has broken or is likely to break any conditions of his or her bail or personal bond,
the court may remand the person in custody or grant him or her bail subject to such conditions as it thinks fit.
A released person shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both, if the released person knowingly, and without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with any duty imposed on the released person —
to surrender to custody;
to be available for investigations; or
to attend court on the day and at the time and place appointed for the released person to do so.
19/2018
For the purposes of subsection (5), a released person is presumed, until the contrary is proved, to have no reasonable excuse if —
on or before the date of the failure to comply with the duty, the released person left Singapore without the permission of a police officer or the court (as the case may be) and has not returned to Singapore; or
on the date of the failure to comply with the duty, the released...
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... summons directing the offender subject to the community order to appear before the court on a date and at a time specified in the summons; or
where the court is satisfied that the offender may not appear, issue a warrant for the arrest of the offender.
Where an offender served with a summons issued under subsection (6)( a ) fails to attend before the court, the court may issue a warrant for the arrest of the offender.
The court may vary or revoke a mandatory treatment order under subsection (1) on any of the following grounds:
there has been a change of circumstances since the order was made that would justify the variation or revocation of the order;
that in view of the progress the offender has made in the treatment, such variation or revocation is warranted.
The court may vary or revoke a day reporting order...
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Commission of further offence
If it appears to a judge to whom jurisdiction is granted under subsection (3) that an offender has been convicted by any court of one or more offences committed during the period when a community order is in force in respect of the offender, and has been dealt with in respect of that offence or those offences, the judge may fix a hearing date to determine if the offender has been so convicted and dealt with and may issue a summons requiring the offender to appear at the place and time specified therein, or may issue a warrant for the offender's arrest.
A Magistrate may not issue a warrant under subsection (1) except on information in writing.
The following persons have jurisdiction for the purposes of subsection (1):
if the community order was made by the General Division of the High Court, a Judge;
if the community order was made by a District Court, a District Judge;
if the community order was made by a Magistrate's Court, a Magistrate.
40/2019
A summons or warrant issued under this section must direct the offender so convicted to appear or be brought before the court which made the community order.
If an offender in respect of whom a community order has been made by the General Division of the High Court or District Court is convicted and dealt with by any Magistrate's Court in respect of any offence or offences committed during the period when the community order is in force in respect of the offender, the Magistrate's Court may commit the offender to custody or release him or her on bail or personal bond until he or she can be brought or appears before the court by which the community order has been made; and if he or she does so the Magistrate's Court must send to the General Division of the High Court or the District Court (as the case may be) a copy of the minute or memorandum of the conviction entered in the register, signed by the Magistrate.
19/2018; 40/2019
Where a community order has been made by a court in respect of an offender, and it is proved to the satisfaction of the court that the offender has been convicted and dealt with in respect of any offence committed during the period when the community order is in force, the court —
in any case where the community order was made in respect of an offence after the court had imposed and suspended under section 337(6) a sentence of imprisonment for that offence — must revoke the community order; or
in any other case — may, taking into account the extent to which the offender has complied with the community order, revoke the community order and impose any sentence that is prescribed for the offence in respect of which the community order has been made.
19/2018
If a Magistrate's Court has made a community order in respect of an offender, and the offender is...
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Search of house suspected to contain stolen property, forged documents, etc.
If a court, upon information and after such inquiry as it thinks necessary, has reason to believe that any place is used —
for the deposit or sale of stolen property or of property unlawfully obtained or of goods in respect of which an offence has been committed under section 4 of the Consumer Protection (Trade Descriptions and Safety Requirements) Act 1975;
for the deposit or sale or manufacture of any forged document, false seal, counterfeit stamp or coin, or any instrument or material for counterfeiting any coin or stamp or for forging; or
for the concealing, keeping or depositing of any stolen property or property unlawfully obtained, forged document, false seal, counterfeit stamp or coin, or any instrument or material used for counterfeiting any coin or stamp or for forging,
the court may by warrant authorise the person or persons to whom it is issued —
to enter that place with such assistance as may be required;
to search it in the manner, if any, specified in the warrant;
to take possession of any goods, property, document, seal, stamp or coin found in it which any of those persons reasonably suspects to be the subject of an offence committed under section 4 of the Consumer Protection (Trade Descriptions and Safety Requirements) Act 1975 or to be stolen, unlawfully obtained, forged, false or counterfeit, and also of any such instrument and material as aforesaid;
to convey any such goods, property, document, seal, stamp, coin, instrument or material before a Magistrate's Court, or to guard the same on the spot until the offender is taken before a Magistrate's Court, or otherwise to dispose thereof in some place of safety; and
to take into custody and produce before a Magistrate's Court every person found in that place who appears to have been privy to the deposit, sale or manufacture or keeping of any such goods, property, document, seal, stamp, coin, instrument or material knowing or having reasonable cause to suspect —
the goods to have been the subject of an offence committed under section 4 of the Consumer Protection (Trade Descriptions and Safety Requirements) Act 1975;
the property to have been stolen or otherwise unlawfully obtained;
the document, seal, stamp or coin to have been forged, falsified or counterfeited; or
the instrument or material to have been or to be intended to be used for counterfeiting any coin or stamp or for forging.
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When person must normally be released on bail or personal bond, or on both
When any person, except a person accused of a non-bailable offence —
is arrested or detained without warrant by a police officer, or appears or is brought before a court; and
is prepared to give bail at any time while in the police officer's custody or at any stage of the proceedings before the court,
the person must be released on bail by a police officer in cases determined by the Commissioner of Police or by that court.
19/2018
Despite subsection (1) —
the police officer or the court may, instead of taking bail from the person, release the person if the person signs a personal bond without sureties; and
the court may, instead of releasing the person on bail, release the person on bail and on personal bond by requiring the person to sign a personal bond without sureties, in addition to taking bail from the person.
19/2018
Despite subsections (1) and (2), where the person is accused of an offence that is not a fine-only offence, and a court believes, on any ground prescribed in the Criminal Procedure Rules, that the person, if released, will not surrender to custody, be available for investigations or attend court, the court may order as follows:
if the person is arrested or detained without warrant by a police officer — order the police officer not to release the person on bail or on personal bond;
if the person appears or is brought before the court — refuse to release the person, whether on bail, on personal bond, or on bail and on personal bond.
19/2018
Where —
a State Court orders the release of a person under this section on bail, on personal bond, or on bail and on personal bond; and
the prosecution applies to the State Court to stay execution on the order pending a review of the order by the General Division of the High Court,
the State Court may stay execution on the order pending a review of the order.
19/2018; 40/2019
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Issue of summons or warrant
A Magistrate must issue a summons for the attendance of an accused if —
the Magistrate finds sufficient reason to proceed with a complaint made by a person who is not a police officer nor an officer from a law enforcement agency nor a person acting with the authority of a public body;
the Magistrate finds sufficient reason to proceed with a complaint made by a police officer, an officer from a law enforcement agency or a person acting with the authority of a public body, and the complaint is written and signed by that officer or person;
the Magistrate knows or suspects that an offence has been committed; or
the accused is brought before the court in custody without process and is accused of having committed an offence which the court has jurisdiction to inquire into or try,
and the case appears to be one in which, according to the fourth column of the First Schedule, the Magistrate should first issue a summons.
In determining whether there is sufficient reason to proceed under subsection (1)( a ), the Magistrate must take into account whether the accused has failed or refused to attend any mediation session when the Magistrate has proceeded in accordance with section 15 of the Community Mediation Centres Act 1997 or when a police officer has referred the case to a mediator for mediation under section 16(1)( c ), and if so, whether the accused had any reasonable grounds for the failure or refusal.
If the case appears to be one in which, according to the fourth column of the First Schedule, the Magistrate should first issue a warrant, the Magistrate may do so or, if he or she thinks fit, issue a summons causing the accused to be brought or to appear at a certain time before a Magistrate's Court.
If the accused fails or refuses to attend any mediation session without providing reasonable grounds for such failure or refusal, the Magistrate may take the failure or refusal into consideration when issuing any further order or direction as the Magistrate deems fit, or when sentencing the accused.
This section does not affect section 120.
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Pleading guilty electronically
A person who is accused of a prescribed offence and is a prescribed person under subsection (7)( b ) may plead guilty electronically to that offence by paying the fine and any prescribed fee under subsection (7)( c ) in accordance with this section.
To plead guilty electronically, the accused must —
enter a plea of guilty at a computer terminal designated by the Registrar of the State Courts for that purpose within the prescribed time; and
pay in advance the fine fixed by the supervising Magistrate as the sentence to be imposed on an accused who pleads guilty electronically to that offence.
5/2014
The Registrar of the State Courts must, within a reasonable time after the accused has entered the plea and paid the fine, send to the supervising Magistrate a record of the guilty plea and of the fine paid.
5/2014
When the supervising Magistrate is satisfied that the fine fixed under subsection (2)( b ) has been paid, the Magistrate is to convict the accused of the prescribed offence in the accused's absence and record the fine paid as the sentence passed for that offence.
The supervising Magistrate may, at any stage of the proceedings, require the accused to attend in person and, if necessary, enforce the accused's attendance by —
issuing a summons if the case appears to be one in which, according to the fourth column of the First Schedule, the Magistrate should first issue a summons; or
issuing a warrant if the case appears to be one in which, according to that column, the Magistrate should first issue a warrant, or if the Magistrate thinks fit, by issuing a summons causing the accused to be brought or to appear at a certain time before the Magistrate.
Nothing in subsection (5) affects section 120.
For the purposes of this section, the Minister may make regulations to prescribe —
the offences punishable by fine or by imprisonment of 12 months or less or both to which this section applies;
the class of persons who qualify to plead guilty electronically under this section;
the fee to be paid for the use of the computer terminal mentioned in subsection (2)( a );
the method of paying fines and fees under this section;
the time within which an accused may plead guilty electronically; and
all matters necessary or convenient to give effect to this section.
In this section —
prescribed offence means an offence specified in regulations made under subsection (7)( a );
supervising Magistrate means the Magistrate in charge of the operation of the computer terminal mentioned in subsection (2)( a ).
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Procedure in non-arrestable cases
Where the information so filed or recorded under section 14 or 15 relates to a non-arrestable offence —
the case must thereupon be investigated by a police officer;
the informant must, by order of a police officer, be referred to a Magistrate; or
a police officer may refer the case to a mediator of a Community Mediation Centre, established under the Community Mediation Centres Act 1997, for mediation.
In investigating such a case, a police officer may, by order of the Public Prosecutor or a Magistrate, exercise any of the special powers of investigation under sections 21, 22, 34, 39 and 111.
A police officer receiving an order of the Public Prosecutor or a Magistrate as mentioned in subsection (2) may also exercise the same powers in respect of the investigation as the police officer may exercise without an order in an arrestable case, except the power to arrest without warrant.
Any informant referred to a Magistrate under subsection (1) must be supplied with a copy of any report filed or recorded under section 14 or 15 on which must be endorsed the name of the police station or place at which the information was so filed or recorded.
A police officer must record his or her reasons if he or she decides not to investigate into any non-arrestable case.
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Summary search
The Commissioner of Police may authorise any police officer in writing to enter any place in the circumstances mentioned in subsection (2) to search, seize and secure any property which the police officer believes to have been stolen as if the police officer had a search warrant for the property seized.
The circumstances mentioned in subsection (1) are —
when the place to be searched is, or has in the 12 months preceding the search been, occupied or used by any person who has been convicted of the offence of receiving stolen property or of harbouring thieves; or
when the place to be searched is occupied or used by any person who has been convicted of any offence involving fraud or dishonesty punishable with imprisonment.
In authorising any police officer under subsection (1), it is not necessary for the Commissioner of Police to specify any particular property if the Commissioner of Police has reason to believe generally that the place to be searched is being made a storage for stolen property.
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Forfeiture of counterfeit currency or banknote, etc.
Any police officer of or above the rank of sergeant, upon being satisfied that any person has in the person's possession —
any counterfeit currency or any die, instrument or material for the purpose of counterfeiting any currency; or
any forged or counterfeit banknote or any machinery, instrument or material used for the forging or counterfeiting of any banknote,
may, without warrant and with or without assistance, enter and search any place where any such currency or banknote or any such die, machinery, instrument or material is kept and seize any such currency, banknote, die, machinery, instrument or material.
15/2019
Anything seized under subsection (1) must, by order of the court before which any person is tried relating to such possession, or where there is no trial, by order of a Magistrate, be forfeited and must be destroyed or otherwise disposed of in such manner as the Minister may direct.
In this section, banknote , currency , die and instrument have the meanings given by the Penal Code 1871.
15/2019
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Power to pardon, suspend or remit sentence, etc.
Where a person has been sentenced to punishment for an offence, the President, acting in accordance with the Constitution, may grant a pardon, reprieve or respite, on such conditions as the President thinks fit, of the execution of the sentence, or remit the whole or any part of the sentence or any penalty or forfeiture imposed by law.
Where an application is made to the President for any of the reliefs mentioned in subsection (1), the President —
in the case of a sentence of death, must act in accordance with Article 22P(2) of the Constitution; or
may in any other case, require the presiding judge of the court before or by which the person is convicted to state his or her opinion as to whether the application should be granted or refused, and the judge must state his or her opinion accordingly.
If any condition on which a sentence has been suspended or remitted is, in the opinion of the President, not fulfilled, the President may cancel the suspension or remission, and upon the cancellation, the person in whose favour the sentence has been suspended or remitted may, if at large, be arrested by a police officer without warrant and remanded to undergo the unexpired portion of the sentence.
Subsection (3) does not apply to a sentence of death.
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Consent required for prosecution of certain offences
A prosecution for —
an offence under section 172 to 188, 193 to 196, 199, 200, 205 to 211, 228, 376C, 376G or 505 of the Penal Code 1871;
an offence under Chapter 5A, 6 (except section 127) or 18 of the Penal Code 1871;
an offence under Chapter 21 of the Penal Code 1871; or
an abetment of, or an attempt to commit, any offence mentioned in paragraphs ( a ), ( b ) and ( c ),
must not be instituted except with the consent of the Public Prosecutor.
A person may be charged or arrested, or a warrant for the person's arrest may be issued and executed, and any such person may be remanded in custody or released on bail, even though the consent of the Public Prosecutor has not been obtained, but the case must not be further prosecuted until that consent has been obtained.
When a person is brought before a court before the Public Prosecutor has consented to the prosecution, the charge must be explained to the person but the person must not be called upon to plead.
The consent of the Public Prosecutor —
need not refer to a particular offence but may be expressed in general terms; and
must as far as practicable specify the place in which and the occasion on which the offence was committed.
No consent remains in force unless acted upon within one month from the date on which it was given.
Subsections (2) to (5) also apply in respect of every consent of the Public Prosecutor which is required to be obtained under any other written law before proceedings in respect of an offence may be instituted.
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When person accused of non-bailable offence may be released on bail
Subject to section 95(1), if any person accused of any non-bailable offence is arrested or detained without warrant by a police officer, or appears or is brought before a court, the person may be released on bail by a police officer of or above the rank of sergeant or by the court.
Subject to section 95(1), if, at any stage of an investigation, inquiry, trial or other proceeding under this Code, there are no reasonable grounds for believing that the accused has committed a non-bailable offence, the police officer or court must release the accused.
Despite subsection (2), if there are grounds for further investigations as to whether the accused has committed some other bailable offence, then, pending the investigations, the accused must be released on bail or, at the discretion of the police officer or court, on his or her own personal bond.
Despite subsections (2) and (3), the court may, instead of releasing the accused on bail or on the accused's own personal bond, release the accused on bail and on personal bond by requiring the accused to sign a personal bond without sureties, in addition to taking bail from the accused.
19/2018
Despite subsections (2), (3) and (3A), where there are grounds for further investigations as to whether the accused has committed a bailable offence that is not a fine-only offence, and a court believes, on any ground prescribed in the Criminal Procedure Rules, that the accused, if released, will not surrender to custody, be available for investigations or attend court, the court may —
order the police officer not to release the accused on bail or on personal bond; or
refuse to release the accused, whether on bail, on personal bond, or on bail and on personal bond.
19/2018
Where —
a State Court orders the release on bail, on personal bond, or on bail and on personal bond, of a person accused of a non-bailable offence; and
the prosecution applies to the State Court to stay execution on the order pending a review of the order by the General Division of the High Court,
the State Court must stay execution on the order pending a review of the order.
19/2018; 40/2019
A police officer or a court releasing any person under this section must record in writing the reasons for so doing.
Any court may at any subsequent stage of any proceeding under this Code cause any person who has been released under this section to be arrested and may commit the person to prison.
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Surrender of travel document
Despite any other written law —
a police officer of or above the rank of sergeant, with the written consent of an authorised officer;
the head or an authorised director of any other law enforcement agency or a person of a similar rank; or
any officer of a prescribed law enforcement agency, with the written consent of the head or an authorised director of that law enforcement agency or a person of a similar rank,
may require a person whom he or she has reasonable grounds for believing has committed any offence to surrender the person's travel document.
19/2018
Any person who fails to surrender his or her travel document as required under subsection (1) may be arrested and taken before a Magistrate.
If the person arrested and taken before the Magistrate under subsection (2) is unable to show good reasons for not surrendering his or her travel document, the Magistrate may commit him or her to prison until he or she surrenders his or her travel document.
For the purposes of subsection (3), a certificate signed by an authorised officer, or the head or an authorised director of any law enforcement agency or a person of a similar rank, or the head or an authorised director of any prescribed law enforcement agency or a person of a similar rank (as the case may be) to the effect that the prisoner has complied with the requirements to surrender his or her travel document is sufficient warrant for the Commissioner of Prisons to release the prisoner.
1/2014; 19/2018
Any person who has surrendered that person's travel document under this section must not leave, or attempt to leave, Singapore unless —
that person has applied under section 113 for the return of that travel document; and
that travel document is returned to that person.
19/2018
Any person who knowingly contravenes subsection (4A) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both.
19/2018
In this section and section 113 —
authorised director , in relation to a law enforcement agency, means a director of that law enforcement agency who is authorised to perform the duties, and exercise the powers, under this section and section 113 of the head of that law enforcement agency;
authorised officer means a police officer of or above the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police who is authorised by the Commissioner of Police to give a written consent mentioned in subsection (1)( a );
prescribed law enforcement agency means a law enforcement agency prescribed for the purposes of subsection (1)( c ) by the Minister charged with the responsibility for that law enforcement agency.
19/2018
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Breach of community orders
An offender in respect of whom a mandatory treatment order, day reporting order, community work order or community service order is in force is in breach of the order if he or she, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with any of his or her obligations under section 340, 343, 345 or 347, respectively.
An offender is in breach of a short detention order if he or she commits an aggravated prison offence as defined in section 73 of the Prisons Act 1933 when there is in force in respect of him or her a short detention order.
Where a court receives information from an appointed psychiatrist, a day reporting officer, a community work officer or a community service officer that an offender in respect of whom a mandatory treatment order, day reporting order, community work order or community service order, respectively, is in force, is in breach of the respective order, the court may fix a hearing date to determine whether the offender is in breach of a community order and may at any time —
issue a summons directing the offender to appear before the court on a date and at a time specified in the summons; or
where the court is satisfied that the offender may not appear, issue a warrant for the arrest of the offender.
Where an offender served with a summons issued under subsection (3)( a ) fails to attend before the court, the court may issue a warrant for the arrest of the offender.
Subject to subsection (7), if it is proved to the satisfaction of a court that an offender in respect of whom a mandatory treatment order, day reporting order, community work order or community service order is in force is in breach of the order —
the court may, without affecting the continuance of the order —
issue a warning to the offender;
vary the order (including reducing or extending the period that the offender has to undergo psychiatric treatment, report to a day reporting officer or perform community work or community service) or the conditions or obligations thereof in such manner as the court thinks just and expedient in the circumstances; or
impose on the offender a fine not exceeding $1,000;
subject to paragraph ( c ), the court may, taking into account the extent to which the offender has complied with the order, revoke the order and impose such sentence which is provided for the offence or offences in respect of which the order has been made; or
where the order was made in respect of an offence after the court had imposed and suspended under section 337(6) a sentence of imprisonment for that offence, the court must revoke the order.
19/2018
Where an offender is in breach of a short detention order, a court may, on the application of the Commissioner of Prisons or any person authorised by the Commissioner of Prisons, revoke the order...
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Interpretation
In this Code, unless the context otherwise requires —
advocate means an advocate and solicitor lawfully entitled to practise criminal law in Singapore;
arrestable offence and arrestable case mean, respectively, an offence for which and a case in which a police officer may ordinarily arrest without warrant according to the third column of the First Schedule or under any other written law;
audiovisual recording means an aggregate of visual images and sounds embodied in a thing, so as to be capable, by the use of that thing, of being produced electronically and shown as a moving picture with associated sounds;
bailable offence means an offence shown as bailable in the fifth column of the First Schedule or which is made bailable by any other written law, and non-bailable offence means any offence other than a bailable offence;
child abuse offence means an offence under section 6(1), 7, 8, 14(2), 16 or 17 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1993, or an offence under section 377BG, 377BH, 377BI, 377BJ, 377BK or 377BL of the Penal Code 1871, and includes an abetment of, a conspiracy to commit, or an attempt to commit, such an offence;
complaint means any allegation made orally or in writing to a Magistrate with a view to the Magistrate taking action under this Code that some person, whether known or unknown, has committed or is guilty of an offence;
computer has the meaning given by the Computer Misuse Act 1993;
court means the Court of Appeal, the General Division of the High Court, a Family Court, a Youth Court, a District Court or a Magistrate's Court (as the case may be) which exercises criminal jurisdiction;
Criminal Procedure Rules —
means the Criminal Procedure Rules 2018 made under this Code and any other written law by the Criminal Procedure Rules Committee constituted under section 428A; and
includes any subsidiary legislation deemed under section 428A(15) to be Criminal Procedure Rules;
criminal record means the record of any —
conviction in any court, or subordinate military court established under section 80 of the Singapore Armed Forces Act 1972;
order made under section 34(2) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1973;
supervision order made under section 16 of the Intoxicating Substances Act 1987;
order made under section 30(1) of the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act 1955; and
order as may be prescribed by the Minister charged with the responsibility for home affairs to be a criminal record for the...
... offence and non-arrestable case mean, respectively, an offence for which and a case in which a police officer may not ordinarily arrest without warrant according to the third column of the First Schedule or under any other written law; offence means an act or omission punishable by any... |
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Saving and transitional provisions
This Code does not affect —
any inquiry, trial or other proceeding commenced or pending under the repealed Code before , and every such inquiry, trial or other proceeding may be continued and everything in relation thereto may be done in all respects after that date as if this Code had not been enacted; and
any further proceedings which may be taken under the repealed Code in respect of any inquiry, trial or other proceeding which has commenced or is pending before , and such further proceedings may be taken and everything in relation thereto may be done in all respects after that date as if this Code had not been enacted.
Any application, authorisation, consent, direction, fiat, instruction, order, requirement or sanction of the Public Prosecutor given or made under the repealed Code before and which remains in force or which is not complied with before that date is treated as if it were an application, authorisation, consent, direction, fiat, instruction, order or requirement of the Public Prosecutor given or made under the corresponding provisions of this Code.
Any summons, warrant or requisition issued by a court under the repealed Code before and which has not been complied with or executed before that date is treated as if it were a summons, warrant or requisition (as the case may be) issued under the corresponding provisions of this Code.
Any proclamation published by a court under section 51 of the repealed Code is treated as if it were a proclamation published under section 88.
Any authorisation given by the Commissioner of Police under section 70 of the repealed Code which is not acted on before is treated as if it were an authorisation of the Commissioner of Police given under section 33.
Any written order of a police officer under section 58 of the repealed Code which is not complied with before is treated as if it were a written order of a police officer under section 20.
Any order of a police officer under section 120 of the repealed Code which is not complied with before is treated as if it were an order of a police officer under section 21.
Any requisition made by a police officer or authorised person under section 125A or 125B of the repealed Code before which is not complied with before that date is deemed to be a requisition made by a police officer or an authorised person under section 39 or 40, respectively.
Any plea of guilty by letter under section 137 of the repealed Code which is not dealt with by a court before is treated as if it were a plea of guilty by letter under section 154 and that provision applies accordingly to the plea of guilty.
Any plea of guilty under section 137A of the repealed Code which is not dealt with by a court before is treated as if it were a plea of guilty under section 226 and that provision applies...
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Provisions as to sentence of fine
Where any fine is imposed and there is no express provision in the law relating to the fine, the following provisions apply:
if the maximum sum is not stated in the law, the fine to which the offender is liable is unlimited but must not be excessive;
the court which imposed the fine may choose to do all or any of the following things at any time before the fine is paid in full:
allow and extend time for its payment;
direct that the fine be paid by instalments;
order the attachment of any property, movable or immovable, belonging to the offender —
by seizure of such property which may be sold and the proceeds applied towards the payment of the fine; or
by appointing a receiver who is to be at liberty to take possession of and sell such property and apply the proceeds towards the payment of the fine;
direct any person who owes money to the offender to pay the court the amount of that debt due or accruing or the amount that is sufficient to pay off the fine;
direct that in default of payment of the fine, the offender must suffer imprisonment for a certain term which must be consecutive with any other imprisonment to which the offender may be sentenced, including any other imprisonment term or terms imposed on the offender under this section in default of payment of fine, or to which the offender may be liable under a commutation of a sentence;
direct that the person be searched, and that any money found on the person when so searched or which, in the event of his or her being committed to prison, may be found on him or her when taken to prison, is to be applied towards the payment of the fine, and the surplus (if any) being returned to him or her; provided that the money must not be so applied if the court is satisfied that the money does not belong to the person on whom it was found;
before allowing time for payment under paragraph ( b )(i) or directing payment by instalments under paragraph ( b )(ii), the court may require the offender to execute a bond with or without sureties on condition that the offender pay the fine or the instalments (as the case may be) on the day or days directed; and if the fine or any instalment is not paid as ordered, then the whole of the fine remaining unpaid becomes due and payable and the court may issue a warrant for the offender's arrest;
the term for which the court directs the offender to be imprisoned in default of payment of a fine is to be as follows:
if the offence is punishable with imprisonment for a term of 24 months or more, it must not exceed one half of the maximum term of imprisonment fixed for the offence;
if the offence is punishable with imprisonment for a term of less than 24 months, it must not exceed one third of the maximum term of imprisonment fixed for the offence...
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Provisions as to money payable as compensation
Subject to the provisions of this Code, where any person is, under this Code, for any reason whatsoever, ordered to pay any sum of money by way of compensation, the court making the order may at any time before that sum has been paid in full, in its discretion, do all or any of the following things:
allow and extend time for the payment of that sum;
direct payment to be made of that sum by instalments;
order the attachment of any property, movable or immovable, belonging to the person —
by seizure of such property which may be sold and the proceeds applied towards the payment of that sum; or
by appointing a receiver who is at liberty to take possession of and sell such property and apply the proceeds towards the payment of that sum;
direct any person who owes money to the person ordered to pay compensation to pay the court the amount of that debt due or accruing or the amount that is sufficient to pay off the compensation sum;
direct that in default of payment of the compensation sum, that person must suffer imprisonment for a certain term, which imprisonment must be consecutive with any other imprisonment to which that person may be sentenced or to which that person may be liable under a commutation of sentence;
direct that that person be searched, and that any money found on that person when so searched or which, in the event of that person being committed to prison, may be found on him or her when taken to prison, is to be applied towards the payment of that sum; the surplus (if any) being returned to him or her.
33/2012
Before allowing time for payment of any sum under subsection (1)( a ) or directing payment of it to be made by instalments under subsection (1)( b ), the court may require that person to execute a bond with or without sureties on condition that that person pays that sum or the instalments (as the case may be) on the day or days directed; and if that sum or any instalment is not paid as ordered, then the whole of that sum remaining unpaid becomes due and payable and the court may issue a warrant for the person's arrest.
Any money found on a person under subsection (1)( e ) must not be so applied if the court is satisfied that the money does not belong to the person on whom it was found.
The term for which the court directs that person to be imprisoned in default of payment of the compensation sum must not exceed the following scale:
when the money to be paid does not exceed $50, the imprisonment may be for any term not exceeding 2 months;
when the money to be paid exceeds $50 but does not exceed $100, the imprisonment may be for any term not exceeding 4 months;
in any other case, the imprisonment may be for a term not exceeding 6 months.
The imprisonment which the...
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... purposes of subsection (5B)( c )(iii)(B), a witness is not unable to give evidence from a place in Singapore merely because — the witness fears arrest in Singapore or in any other jurisdiction; the witness fears prosecution in Singapore or in any other jurisdiction; or a warrant of arrest has been issued...
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