[ad_1]
SINGAPORE – Attorney General Lucien Wong has detailed steps to address institutional gaps and provide greater public accountability.
Training and guidance for prosecutors is being reviewed, while internal guidelines have been developed and briefings have been held to help prosecutors consider their obligations to disclose documents to the defense.
In response to the lessons of the Parti Liyani case, the prosecution is working with the police on guidelines for recording statements and obtaining appraisals of allegedly stolen items.
The Office of the Attorney General of the Republic (AGC) will also reinforce efforts to demystify the internal workings of the Office of the Prosecutor, explaining its impeachment decisions and educating the public about the criminal justice system through the media.
Wong acknowledged that last year’s imperfections exposed his organization to intense scrutiny and criticism.
But he vowed that he will better fulfill his fundamental duty to help the court make the right decision.
He also made it clear that he would not allow fear of failure or public backlash to get in the way of AGC’s obligation to process worthy cases fairly.
In his speech at the annual ceremony to mark the opening of the legal year, Mr. Wong spoke about how, in the midst of the battle against Covid-19, prosecutors also had to weather “our own crisis.”
“What made 2020 a unique challenge was the feeling that the public’s trust in us was at stake. That is something we take very seriously because that trust is central to our mission, and we work very hard to be worthy of she said.
He identified the cases of Ms. Parti Liyani and Gobi Avedian among the various decisions that were not in favor of AGC.
The case of Ms Parti, a former domestic worker who was acquitted of stealing from her employer, sparked public uproar and led to a nine-hour parliamentary debate on the criminal justice system. The two prosecutors now face a disciplinary investigation.
Gobi, a Malaysian drug dealer, was acquitted of a capital charge. He has filed a civil lawsuit against Wong and other prosecutors.
Mr. Wong emphasized that AGC’s motive was not to win at all costs, but to achieve fair results fairly.
Indictment decisions are made only after prosecutors are satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to support a reasonable prospect of conviction and that prosecution is in the public interest.
He said his team of 245 prosecutors evaluates more than 40,000 investigative documents a year. That number excludes court appearances in more than 7,000 cases.
However, not every acquittal is a sign that prosecutors have failed in their duty, he said.
He cited the case of a nursing home worker who had sexually abused an elderly patient. The case was difficult to prosecute as it relied heavily on an eyewitness account. The man was initially convicted, but was acquitted by the High Court due to “evidentiary difficulties”.
The prosecution then referred the case to the Court of Appeal and the conviction was reinstated.
“If we refrain from prosecuting when there is some risk of acquittal, then this injustice, and many others, will never see the light of day,” Wong said.
[ad_2]
