1 Criminal Procedure Contents

Criminal Procedure Contents 1.

Commencement of legal proceedings a. Commencement of court proceedings i. How non seizable offences and seizable offences are brought to court 1. four ways essentially ii. Conditions prereq for initiation of proceedings (for all types) (sections 129-132) 1. arrest cases 2. complaint cases (warrant or summons) a. by police b. by private persons/ companies

c. b.

c.

procedure upon magistrates’ cognizance of complaint (A-G)

Commencement of Investigations - First Information Report i. What is a First Information Report (FIR) ii. Procedure when information received iii. Significance of FIR 1. Admissibility of statements AFTER FIR 2. When investigations have begun iv. Evidential Value of FIR v. Right to FIR Powers of Arrest i. Definition of seizable offence ii. How to effect arrest section 24; 28 iii. What amounts to arrest (x5) iv. three types of arrest 1. without warrant a. 5 grds in section 32, + section 33 + other acts– see especially what is reasonable complaint, credible information, reasonable suspicion 2. with warrant a. form; procedure etc of warrant/ when warrant in lieu of summons 3. private arrest a. section 34(1) (4 conds) or b. section 34(5) v. legality of arrest – so long as powers above outlined vi. effect of illegal arrest 1. wrongful arrest – appropriate remedies (x5)

vii.

d.

e.

detention and procedure upon arrest 1. without warrant sections 35-36 2. with warrant section 35 3. private arrest section 34 viii. fundamental rights under constitn 1. right to be informed 2. defended by lawyer 3. brought before magistrate without delay Powers of Search & Seizure i. Seizable versus non seizable ii. search warrants – sections 61-66 (when and how issued); time period for validity; power of HC judge or lack thereof iii. general powers of search and seizure iv. illegally obtained evidence Powers to Compel Production of Documents and Things –

i. ii.

f. g.

section 58: note conditions

issue of summons – section 42-45 (applicable also to above: arrest cases) Powers of Investigation and Recording of Statements i. Seizable vs non seizable ii. Includes: attendance of witness etc Other powers of investigation

i.

PC offences for false info or refusing to ans info/ Loh Chai Huat case: exclusivity of PCA and CPC

2.

Identification Parades a. When necessary b. Conduct of parade c. Fairness to accused d. Reliance on IP

3.

taking instructions a. obligations and relationship – rondel and mcfadden

b. c. d. e. f.

g. h.

i. 4.

Bail a.

b. c. d.

e. f. g.

h. i. j. k.

5.

overview of the interviews; what info to solicit from client advising guilty plea advising against concealing info – section 213 PC representations to PP general professional responsibility obligations composition – conditions before compoundability professional responsibility i. guilty plea ii. perjured evid iii. cross exam iv. LPP v. Citation of authority vi. Conflict of interest vii. PCR viii. Two cases on prison authorities – ong ying ping and chen kok siang joseph Capital cases assignation of counsel

Purpose Discharge of sureties s358 Bailable offences i. Of right but subject to exceptions Non bailable i. Generally allowed at court discretion but subj to

ii. reasonable grounds (death/life impt) iii. HC’s unfettered discretion iv. Other factors to consider Quantum Types of bail Imposition of conditions i. Non bailable vs bailable ii. Other mandatory conditions iii. Bail bond sureties – law and practice Bail at three levels i. Police bail/ court bail/ bail in the course of investigations/ bail pending appeal High court’s power to vary bail Bail and backdating of sentences Forfeiture of bail bond i. Show cause ii. appeal

police statements a. types of statements b. when power arises

c.

Statements under s 121 CPC (long statements) i. Who can a section 121 statement be taken from

ii. iii. iv.

v. vi.

d.

When can a section 121 statement be taken Effect of a failure to comply with requirements under section 121 1. proced irreg and weight 2. exceptions – flouting/ prejudice (writing/ informing of charge) Role of interpreters Necessity of medical examination before recording of section 121 statement

Privilege against self-incrimination (bound to tell the truth) - section 121(2) 1. effect of keeping silent for fear of self incrimination Statements under s 122(6) CPC (cautioned statements) i. admissibility provisions ii. Purpose 1. Adverse inference iii. Notice in writing 1. service 2. extent of explanation/ warning to be administered a. failure to do so => impact on drawing of inference iv. how much of defence to be stated in s122(6) statement

v.

e.

effect of failure to follow 122(6) procedure 1. admissible/ weight/ adverse inference Admissibility of statements i. Statements to police officers by accusd/ by witnesses/ to non police officers/ out of court statements ii. Voluntariness 1. s24 EA and s122(5) 2. differences in 2 provisions 3. Proof of statement - beyond reasonable doubt that voluntary

4.

iii. iv. v.

vi. f.

two limbs to TIP a. note beh chai hock – adm not equiv to voluntariness b. types of TIP (or non-TIP) c. self perceived d. drug influence e. interrogation and cross examination 5. TIP having reference to the charge 6. from person in authority 7. statutory obligation to answer effect of amended charge on 122.6 statement Oppression Voir Dire 1. when nec 2. treatment of evid – not to be used in main trial (exceptions)/ not used in another voir dire/ cross examining co accused/PW during co accused’s voir dire/ subseq objn/ proced irreg 3. burden of proof 4. improper admission of statement – no voir dire (s169 EA NOT s369 CPC) Judicial Discretion to exclude

Use of statements (x7) – note esp: i. S157 EA ii. S123 CPC iii. S147 EA iv. S159 EA v. S30 EA vi. S27 vii. S161 EA

6.

Evidential matters a. Evidence by conditioned statements s371 (or 141 for PI) b. Privilege i. S128 privilege ii. Communications during marriage s124 EA c.

d.

iii. Against self incrimination s134(4) and 134(5) EA s27 Evidence Act – fact discovered by virtue of statement Impeachment i. Definition and purpose ii. Kwang boon keong – aim/ purpose/ effect iii. iv. v.

When allowed (types of inconsistency) The mechanics (legis provisions) procedure 1. for witness: muthusamy

2. 3.

e. f.

for accused: loganatha

where voluntariness of coaccused/witness/accused statements are challenged – different proced vi. hostile witness 1. refreshing memory s161 2. cross examination of own witness s156 3. cross examining on previous inconsistent statements s147 4. impeachment s157 vii. effect of impeachment viii. application for statement to impeach – Rosli bin Othman ix. s147(3) – use of impeached witness’ statement as substantive evid 1. not nec to do so all the time x. types of statements for impeachment 1. eg SOF xi. conviction on prev inconsistent statement xii. action against a hostile witness Illegally obtained evidence Hearsay exceptions i. Evidence by video

7.

prosecution of offences a. who b. public prosecutions c. private prosecutions d. control of prosecution

8.

The charge a. Purpose b. Form & Particulars i. Sample ii. Particulars: s158; s159; special provisions for CBT/CMP; s160 c. Tendering charges i. Who/procedure d. Error or omission s162 e. Duplicity i. S168 general rule ii. Distinction between separate and alternative offences 1. implications: when curable and when not f. Double counting g. Joint charges - section 34/109/143 PC h. Joinder of charges

i. ii.

iii. iv. i.

j.

k.

2 exceptions to 168: 169 and 170 when rightly joined and when not charge to prefer – prosecutorial discretion section 171 – separation of charge and trial where prejudice

Joinder of defendants section 176 i. When ii. Effect of misjoinder iii. Court discretion to order joinder iv. Evid of co accused v. Conviction of abettor vi. No need to amend charge when co accused acquitted Framing the charge i. Alternative charges – s172, 173, 174, 175; s215 Amendments of charge

i. ii.

During trial s163 (note s166 +164) On appeal 1. HC s256/ s19,23,27 SCJA

2. iii.

CA s54(1)

Criminal revision s268

l.

Irregularities s162; s396 m. Withdrawal n. Charges taken into consideration (TIC) 9.

Prosecution case a. Mention i. Mentions courts ii. Other courts b. Open justice concept c. Parties to criminal proceedings d. Preliminaries i. Adjournment s198/ PDs ii. Holding period and exceptions (fast track and fam) iii. Presence of accused at trial (s203)/ dispensation s137/s364A e. Transfer of cases s186 f. Plea of Guilt i. Advised on offence and penalty/ duty of judge ii. Charge read and explained (+essentials of charge) iii. Fitness to plead iv. Understanding nature and conseq of plea (lee weng tuck) v. Qualified pea of guilt vi. Statement of facts vii. Electronic pleading viii. Conviction/TIC/admission/crim record/mitigation/ pronouncement and orders/pass sentence/ancillary orders/ appeal ix. Retraction of plea 1. Correction of error 2. if not, revision x. qualifying plea: Newton hearing g.

Trial i. ii. iii.

Stay and transfer Opening Order of witnesses 1. calling fresh witnesses/compelling/ failure to attend etc

iv.

v. vi. vii. viii.

ix. x.

Order of examination Test at close of prosecution case/ submission of no case to answer Court to call defence or not Defence case Closing Acquit or convict and subseq applications Discharge at any stage

10. Defence case a. Admission of queen’s counsel b. Trial

i. ii.

Cross examination rules and Putting client’s case

Calling of defence – s196(2) inference Prosecution right of reply iv. Accused giving evid v. Where there are co accused Defences open to accused i. Alibi - leave ii. S107, 108 EA Impeachment Recall of witness Final submissions Burden & Standard of Proof/ Oblig to call evidence (adverse inferences otherwise) Acquittal or conviction Mitigation – how to mitigate i. Sentencing ii. Appeal and other matters Citation of auth practice direction iii.

c.

d. e. f.

g. h.

i. j.

11. criminal appeals a. Right of appeal i. Finality/ party/crim case or matter/ final judgement b. Two stages c. Types of appeal i. Against acquittal ii. Against conviction upon PG iii. Sub court to HC appeal 1. s60 SCJA exception further appeal iv. High court to CA appeals d. Procedural matters i. Sub court to HC – notice/petition/skeletal arguments ii. HC to CA – notice/petition iii. Extension of time 1. factors 2. procedure e. remand f. Bail g. Stay of execution h. Procedure at hearing i. Judges on appeal j. Powers of appellate courts i. HC and CA: General juris ii. Amendment of charges iii. Reversal of judgments iv. Enhancing sentence v. Finding of facts – change?

vi.

Deciding whether prima facie case established Taking fresh evidence viii. Curing irregularities s395;396 Abatement of appeal Revision vii.

k. l.

12. judgement and sentence a. jurisdiction – HC/DC/MC b. mode of delivering judgement c. functus officio s217 d. explaining judgement e. sentencing philosophy i. public interest ii. sentencing consistency and parity 1. previous cases 2. accomplices iii. one transaction and totality principle iv. relevance of English law v. s71 PC – closely connected acts vi. max sentence provided by law vii. enhanced punishment for previous conviction /treatment of antecedents viii. spent convictions/ Registration of Criminals Act f. sentences i. imprisonment for life ii. imprisonment 1. backdating 2. deferment 3. default sentences 4. rehabilitation iii. home detention iv. caning v. fines vi. police supervision vii. probation viii. reformative training ix. corrective training x. preventive detention xi. disqualification from driving xii. CWO g. Mitigation plea h. Aggravating factors i. Prosecution costs j. Compensation 13. Preliminary inquiries a. Purpose b. Who presides i. Duty of magistrate c. Standard of proof d. Procedural matters pre PI e. Day of PI f. After PI g. Review of PI 14. coroner’s inquiry a. Role of the state coroner b. Jurisdiction c. The coroner and public prosecutor

d. e. f.

g. h. i.

When a case is referred to the coroner Coroner’s inquiry hearing Verdicts Section 280 CPC: stay Role of lawyers and deputy public prosecutors in coroner’s inquiries Organ transplants

15. Miscellaneous matters a. Disposal of Property i. Prosecution s386 vs no prosecution s392 ii. forfeiture b. Accused Persons of Unsound Mind c. Juvenile Proceedings d. women e. Contempt of Court f. History of crim pro g. Inherent powers f courts h. Discovery

i. j. k. l.

CCMS PTCs Community courts English law