Hany Soh on Public Defenders Bill
A Bill to establish a Public Defender’s Office (PDO) in Singapore proposes to exclude certain offences from criminal legal aid - for instance, those that bring about “negative externalities” such as gambling, organised crime and terrorism. However, MP Hany Soh asked if a blanket exclusion could be forgone in favour of flexibility for the Chief Public Defender or Law Minister to exercise discretion to grant aid in special circumstances. She also called for the application and approval process to be made straightforward and swift, to prevent situations where the remand period ends up being longer than the eventual sentence. Speaking in Parliament on Monday (Aug 1), Ms Soh also asked what will be done to ensure optimal manpower and quality of service when the PDO starts operating by the end of this year.
A Bill to establish a Public Defender’s Office (PDO) in Singapore proposes to exclude certain offences from criminal legal aid - for instance, those that bring about “negative externalities” such as gambling, organised crime and terrorism. However, MP Hany Soh asked if a blanket exclusion could be forgone in favour of flexibility for the Chief Public Defender or Law Minister to exercise discretion to grant aid in special circumstances. She also called for the application and approval process to be made straightforward and swift, to prevent situations where the remand period ends up being longer than the eventual sentence. Speaking in Parliament on Monday (Aug 1), Ms Soh also asked what will be done to ensure optimal manpower and quality of service when the PDO starts operating by the end of this year.
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