The Criminal Mentions system is set up to manage the flow of cases where suspects are first charged in court after police investigation. Presently, Courts No. 23 and 26 are mainly used for criminal mentions. Court 23 has the powers of a Magistrate Court, while Court 26 has those of a District Court. The Criminal Mentions Courts are designated as control points to handle the numerous cases coming from the different police stations and other bodies involved in prosecuting offences.

An accused's case is first mentioned in one of the Criminal Mentions Courts. The Criminal Mentions Courts deal with a wide variety of applications including applications for bail, remand (being kept in police custody in the prisons) and adjournments.

Q: What is the difference between Court 26 and Court 23?

Court 26 deals with all "fresh" District Arrest Cases (DAC) or (generally more serious cases), matters awaiting preliminary inquiry to see if the prisoner should be committed for trial and transferred to the High Court, matters where the accused faces multiple charges and at least one of the charges is a "DAC", or where the accused has to be remanded beyond 8 days.

Court 23 deals with Magistrate's Arrest Cases (MAC) or(generally less serious cases), police summonses, private summonses that includes intellectual property cases as well and Summonses prosecuted by the Official Assignee, Official Receiver, Ministry of Manpower, Maritime Port Authority, National Parks Board, Registry of Companies and Businesses and the Ministry of Health.

The Court is presided by a judge who is assisted by court officers, court interpreters and police officers. The prosecuting officers from the relevant organisations will also be present.

• Deliberate Crimes
• Crimes Involving Reckless Behaviour
• Strict Liability Offences
• Defences
• Criminal Proceedings
• Doing It Yourself