What is an arrest? In what circumstances can the police arrest an individual? Is an arrested individual entitled to legal advice whilst in police custody? What powers of investigation do the authorities have? What is bail and what is its purpose?

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In this module, we will address investigative procedures and timelines, arrest protocols, the rights of vulnerable accused persons, issues of bail and more – including a discussion on the recent case of  Mah Kiat Seng v Attorney-General & ors [2023] SGHC 14

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Moderator:

Muslim Albakri, Managing Director, Albakri LLC

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Speakers:

Eugene Thuraisingam, Managing Partner, Eugene Thuraisingam LLP

Steven Lam, Director, Templars Law LLC

Parliament has not thought it fit to legislate and prescribe conditions applicable to plea-bargaining. Currently, Defence Counsel can make letters of representation to the AGC and conduct a CCMS to discuss the merits of their respective cases and narrow down the issues of contention or reach an agreement on plea-bargaining.

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The speakers will share practical tips on what makes a persuasive letter of representation and how parties can engage in an effective CCMS discussion.

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Our speakers will also discuss the other common procedures such as pre-trial conferences, criminal case disclosure conferences, deferred prosecution agreements and more.

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Moderator:

Vigneesh Nainar, Senior Associate, Wee Swee Teow LLP

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Speakers:

Kalidass Murugaiyan, Director, Kalidass Law Corporation

Tan Kiat Pheng, Chief Prosecutor, Attorney-General's Chambers

Wendell Wong, Director, Dispute Resolution, Drew & Naiper LLC

The art of advocacy is both exacting and inspiring. In this module, our speakers provide helpful suggestions on the preparation of cases to be orally argued before the Courts. Among other matters, issues such as the importance of oral argument, the order and progression of argument, questions from the bench, and proper courtroom etiquette will be discussed.

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Moderator:

Sadhana Rai, Deputy Director of Representations, Pro Bono SG

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Speaker: 

Abraham Vergis, SC, Managing Director, Providence Law Asia

Sanjiv Kumar Rajan, Partner, Allen & Gledhill LLP

The public has no greater interest than that a youthful or vulnerable offender is rehabilitated and becomes a good citizen. There is also often an interest in keeping such offenders out of the prison environment.

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In this module, our speakers will discuss the alternative sentencing options that are available such as probation, reformative training or community-based sentences. The speakers will also discuss recent legislative developments and the latest case law concerning Singapore’s alternative sentencing options.

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Moderator:

Goh Qian Hui, Community Law Fellow, Pro Bono SG

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Speaker: 

Pramnath Vijayakumar, CLAS Advocate, Pro Bono SG

Fernandez Clifton Paul, Manager, Ministry of Social and Family Development

Li Zhihui, Assistant Manager, Ministry of Social and Family Development

This module will equip lawyers with the necessary tools to identify mentally ill clients and assist them in navigating through the process of engaging a forensic psychiatrist for the purposes of court proceedings. The speakers will also detail the possible ethical situations and pitfalls that forensic psychiatric experts and lawyers would commonly encounter in the courtroom setting.

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Moderator:

Pramnath Vijayakumar, CLAS Advocate, Pro Bono SG

 

Speakers: 

Dr Rajesh Jacob, Senior Consultant Psychiatrist, Promises Healthcare

Sunil Sudheesan, Director, Quahe Woo & Palmer LLC

Mohamed Faizal Mohamed Abdul Kadir, SC, Second Chief Prosecutor, Attorney-General's Chambers

This module will help the defence counsel understand how certain drugs metabolise in the body, and briefly learn about the metabolic pathways of common drugs of abuse.

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We will also address HSA reports in drug cases, and how analysis is done, and presented.

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Armed with this knowledge, the defence counsel will be in a better position to advice their clients of the merits (or lack thereof) of some of the defences their clients may attempt to raise.

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Moderator:

Tan Su, CLAS Fellow, Pro Bono SG

 

Speakers: 

Johannes Hadi, Partner, Eugene Thuraisingam LLP

Moy Hooi Yan, Laboratory Director, Health Sciences Authority

Nathaniel Sim, Head Forensics, Central Narcotics Bureau

From hair to bodily fluids, hear from the experts on how DNA is extracted and profiled.

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From this module, you will acquire the basic understanding of the work process and laboratory analysis and how to interpret results of forensic examination and how forensic evidence can assist judges in rendering legal decisions.

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We will also consider the issues to be aware of when selecting and instructing a forensic expert, and what types of experts defence counsel should look for.

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Moderator:

Stephania Wong, Senior Associate, Rajah & Tann Asia

 

Speakers:

Johannes Hadi, Partner, Eugene Thuraisingam LLP

Lim Xin Li, Senior Forensic Scientist, Health Sciences Authority

It is key that vulnerable persons are treated appropriately and helped through the criminal justice system without adversely affecting their right to a fair trial.

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This module will equip lawyers with up to date information about the treatment of vulnerable witnesses and parties in legal proceedings.

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This module will also look at the role of intermediaries such as social workers and the remarkable impact that their increasing involvement with the justice system has made.

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Moderator:

Shirin Chew, CLAS Fellow, Pro Bono SG

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Speaker:

Chenthil Kumarasingam, Partner, Withers KhattarWong LLP

Ashvin Hariharan, Partner, I.R.B. Law LLP

Jocelyn Tan, Head, Social Workers, MINDS

The last decade has seen an overall increase in the number of sexual crime cases reported and prosecuted in Singapore courts.

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Following our discussion last year, join us for a more in-depth and informal conversation on the effect of legislative amendments, sentencing frameworks and institutional responses to the rise in reports of sexual assault cases in Singapore – including a look at the recently set up Sexual Crime and Family Violence Command.

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Moderator:

Pramnath Vijayakumar, CLAS Advocate, Pro Bono SG

 

Speaker:

Chenthil Kumarasingam, Partner, Withers KhattarWong LLP

Suresh Damodara, Managing Director, Damodara Ong LLC

Sadhana Rai, Head of Representation, Pro Bono SG

A trial is not a presentation of every fact and every remotely possible legal argument. It is our job as solicitors to assess the information before trial, organise it and present it to the judge in a simple model that explains why the accused person is innocent of the charge(s) brought against him.

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In this module, our speakers share their tips on developing a perfect case theory and the myriad of decisions that you would need to make as a solicitor in arriving at a viable case theory.

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Moderator:

Yip Jian Yang, CLAS Advocate, Pro Bono SG

 

Speaker:

Tan Chee Meng, SC, Deputy Chairman, WongPartnership LLP

Derek Kang, Managing Director, Cairnhill Law LLC

If all witnesses had the honesty to come forward and conscientiously follow the letter as well as the spirit of the oath, there would be no occasion for cross-examination. That is not the world we live in.

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The speakers in this module will draw upon their own experiences and achievements to explain and exemplify the art of cross examination. This module is your key to employing these proven techniques in your own practice.

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Moderator:

Sadhana Rai, Deputy Director of Representations, Pro Bono SG

 

Speaker:

Sreenivasan Narayanan, SC, Managing Partner, K&L Gates Straits Law

Ramesh Tiwary, Director, R Tiwary & Co

Jaikanth Shankar, Chief Executive Officer, Davinder Singh Chambers

This module will clearly explain the key rules of evidence and the practical approach that practitioners ought to take to conduct effective criminal litigation.

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The speakers will also discuss the further levelling of the playing field for the criminal defence in the recent landmark case of Muhammad Nabil.

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Moderator:

Darrell Low, Partner, Bih Li & Lee LLP

 

Speaker:

Sreenivasan Narayanan, SC, Managing Partner, K&L Gates Straits Law

Andre Jumabhoy, Director, Andre Jumabhoy LLC