From the Editor-in-Chief

The criminal law governs the acts of individuals and seeks to establish order while simultaneously preventing harm in inherently chaotic societies. As its control and reach over citizens over the land are manifestly formidable, the criminal law must invariably be underpinned by notions of justice and fairness; otherwise it would lose all normative reason for its existence. This issue of the Juris Illuminae examines the various facets of the law in this regard, from the initiation stage of prosecutorial discretion to evidential and constitutional worries at trial, and their need for reform, if any. An intriguing interview with Mr. Subhas Anandan, arguably Singapore’s best-known criminal lawyer, is also included. He provides his views on his practice and motivations – topics that will greatly interest students considering a similar career path.

This issue marks the end of the Singapore Law Review’s current editorial board’s contributions to this flourishing newsletter. The Review thanks Colin Ng & Partners for their kind partnership and support throughout the year. We are also grateful for the opportunities afforded to us in furthering our aim of facilitating the cognisance and discussion of all matters legal. We must also thank you, the loyal reader, for without an audience, words will be for naught.

Do enjoy this last issue of Juris for the academic year and all the best in the coming examinations!

(Read the Print Version: Juris Illuminae Vol. 4 Issue 5 Print Edition)

• Prosecutorial Discretion by Ng Sook Zhen
  

  The criminal law governs the acts of individuals and seeks to establish order while simultaneously preventing harm in inherently chaotic societies. As its control and reach over citizens over the land are manifestly formidable, the criminal law must invariably be underpinned by notions of justice and fairness; otherwise it would lose all normative reason for its existence. (Read More)

• An Overview: Singapore Criminal Law and Justice by Rachel Leow
  

  Criminal law plays a vital role in society by ensuring justice and fairness and serves to protect society from injurious acts. Essentially a coercive arm of the law which carries overtones of moral condemnation by society through the criminal label, criminal law differs from many other areas of law. (Read More)

• Interview with Criminal Lawyer, Mr. Subhas Anandan by Harpreet Kaur Dhillon
  

  Mr Subhas Anandan is a well-known lawyer in the Singapore criminal field. He heads the Criminal Law Department in law firm KhattarWong as a Senior Consultant. Mr Anandan has been in practice for more than 25 years and has come to be synonymous with several of the landmark capital punishment cases, for example the Kallang Body Parts and Took Leng How’s cases. (Read More)

• Attracting Talents to Criminal Law-A Matter of Dollars and Cents? by Tan Sin Yan
  

  “Pay them well,” Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong said in response to the shortage of lawyers in Singapore. “Greed works most of the time, even for the large majority of people in affluent societies.” It is no wonder then that the legal profession is languishing in Singapore when junior lawyers are paid more than double in Hong Kong – about S$11,650 a month compared to about S$4,000 in Singapore. (Read More)

• The “Less-Knowns” of Criminal Law by Tan An Qi Angie
  

  While criminal law practice in Singapore is largely confined to the statutory framework of the Penal Code (Cap. 224, 1985 Rev. Ed. Sing.) and the Criminal Procedure Code (Cap. 68, 1985 Rev. Ed. Sing.), it is not as insular or sterile as those unfamiliar with this area of law make it out to be. (Read More)

• Changes to the Singapore Criminal Justice Process: A Vignette
  

  There are 2 widely-accepted models of criminal justice process, namely due-process and crime-control. (Read More)