Singapore legislation
Section 357
Section 357
Costs against defence counsel
(1)
Where it appears to a court that costs have been incurred unreasonably or improperly in any proceedings (for example, by commencing, continuing or conducting a matter the commencement, continuation or conduct of which is an abuse of the process of the Court) or have been wasted by a failure to conduct proceedings with reasonable competence and expedition, the court may make against any advocate whom it considers responsible (whether personally or through an employee or agent) an order —
disallowing the costs as between the advocate and his or her client; or
directing the advocate to repay to his or her client costs which the client has been ordered to pay to any person.
(1A)
If the Court of Appeal or the General Division of the High Court makes an order under subsection (1)(a) or (b) in respect of any proceedings for a matter under Division 1B of Part 20, and the prosecution has applied to the Court of Appeal or the General Division of the High Court for an order for the costs of that matter to be paid to the prosecution on the ground that the commencement, continuation or conduct of that matter was an abuse of the process of the Court, the Court of Appeal or the General Division of the High Court must state whether it is satisfied that the commencement, continuation or conduct of that matter was an abuse of the process of the Court.
(2)
No order under this section may be made against an advocate unless he or she has been given a reasonable opportunity to appear before the court and show cause why the order should not be made.