When you face criminal charges or are placed under arrest, one of the first things you are advised to do is get in touch with a lawyer. Businesses and organisations accused of criminal activity will take similar action, as the complex nature of the law makes it difficult to navigate without the assistance of an expert. Lawyers ensure your rights are upheld, offer guidance on how to plead in court and assist in establishing a defence where necessary. But what happens if you can’t afford to hire a lawyer to defend you? Thankfully, you aren’t thrown to the wolves just because you don’t have the m ..read more

Not everyone who is accused of committing an offence is guilty of it. Sometimes, people have clouded judgement or get confused by misleading circumstances and make a wrongful accusation to the police. People make mistakes, and the person making the accusation isn’t in any trouble if they did so in good faith and had good reason to suspect the accused. However, false accusations are sometimes made with malicious intent, perhaps driven by revenge or a desire for personal gain. Knowingly accusing an innocent person of an offence is a crime and can result in jail time for those found guilty of it ..read more

Borrowing money is a common financial strategy used in Singapore for everything from paying off a credit card to buying your first home. But it also has a dark underbelly, with loan sharks or ah long abusing the process and preying on desperate individuals with unsavoury tactics. With the prevalence of financial crime, it’s important to understand the difference between legal and illegal moneylending, and how you can borrow money safely and avoid getting into any financial trouble.  Licensed vs unlicensed moneylenders  Licensed moneylending is fully legal in Singapore, meaning busine ..read more

If you commit or are suspected of committing a crime in Singapore, you may be placed under arrest by the police. This essentially means you will be taken into custody at a police station or detention centre – or a remand home for juveniles – to be questioned and possibly charged with an offence. Police officers are given the power to use reasonable force if the offender refuses to cooperate, through the use of handcuffs or other forms of restraint, but may choose to avoid the use of force where possible. The powers of the police in Singapore and the rights of individuals are detailed ..read more

Pleading guilty is never an easy decision, but it’s important to understand the process behind what happens next. Once you’ve been officially charged with an offence, there are two available options. You can either deny the charges – known as claiming trial – or plead guilty. If you choose the latter option, it’s vital that you fully comprehend what this means. Pleading guilty is where you acknowledge that you committed the alleged offence and are willing to accept your punishment. With this process usually taking place in an open courtroom hearing, having an experienced criminal defence lawye ..read more

If your child has been charged with an offence, this is undoubtedly a scary time for any parent. But it’s absolutely imperative that you remain calm and understand what comes next. With the help of a highly experienced criminal lawyer, you’ll have the support to navigate the complex legal process and ensure your child receives the fairest possible outcome. As Singapore’s legal system includes Youth Courts, these hear cases about minors who have committed serious criminal offences. However, as these proceedings are civil rather than criminal, children are charged with what’s known as a ‘delinqu ..read more

Hiring a criminal lawyer can be a tricky conundrum to crack, especially if you’re doing it for the first time. The basics are simple enough: you need legal assistance from an expert who knows the ins and outs of the law and can help you get the best possible outcome. But how do you know which lawyer is right for you? Hiring a lawyer is like hiring any other professional: there are those that will do just enough to get by, and there are those that will go above and beyond. Your lawyer is there to offer legal advice, explain the key workings of the justice system, protect your rights and, if ne ..read more

The internet is something most of us can’t live without, and the global pandemic highlighted just how firmly it has shifted from a convenience to a necessity. But alongside the benefits the digital sphere brings to all of us working from home, shopping online, streaming movies and staying in touch with friends and family, it has also provided countless opportunities for criminals. For some, it’s tempting to think of cybercrime through the lens of Hollywood: shadowy figures hunched over keyboards, streams of code flashing a green glow across their faces as they hack into government facilities ..read more

Molestation is a serious crime that carries hefty penalties in Singapore, including fines, loss of employment, revocation of professional licenses, caning, civil action and jail time of up to 20 years.  If you are accused of molesting someone, a criminal investigation will commence in order to determine whether or not you should be charged with committing the crime as per its definition under sexual offences in the Penal Code. While a wrongful accusation of any crime is serious, unfounded allegations of molestation are particularly severe given the gravity of the potential consequences. I ..read more

Most people know that when you are charged with a crime, you need to hire a lawyer to argue your case in court. But without previous experience dealing with a lawyer or Singapore’s justice system in general, it’s difficult to know exactly what goes on behind the scenes. Sometimes, people wonder why they need a lawyer in the first place – after all, how hard can it be to show up in court and say “not guilty”? While it’s possible to represent yourself, the reality is that the law is a complicated beast. Arguing your case at trial is one of the chief roles of a criminal defence lawyer, but t ..read more