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Specialist Clusters For Subordinate Courts
Posted on Friday, April 27, 2007 - 07:30 PM

Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong has announced a slew of changes for the Subordinate Courts. The changes, under the Subordinate Courts Work Plan, involves re-grouping the courts into specialised clusters.

To make the courts more efficient, the Chief Justice said specialisation was the key. Offences will be grouped into clusters to allow judges to mete out sentences that are specific to the offence as well as the offender.

From 7th May 2007, Criminal Court judges will be regrouped into five categories:
a) Crimes against Persons, which include molest cases;
b) Violent Property Crimes and Regulatory Offences, which incorporate armed robberies and causing environmental damage;
c) Non-Violent Property Crimes, which will cover shoplifting as well as Immigration, Employment and Intellectual Property issues;
d) Public Order Offences, which will deal with issues such as illegal assembly; and
e) Commercial Crimes, which already exists, and which includes crimes involving technology.

In another change, the Community Court, which was set up last year, will have a resource panel consisting of welfare groups such as: The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Institute of Mental Health,The HINDU Centre, and The Association of Muslim Professionals. Their role is to give a more holistic approach and flexibility when it comes to sentencing.

The setting up of a Bail Court was also announced. The Chief Justice said this was to prevent an accused person from being unjustly remanded, during the pre-trial period.

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