Singapore legislation
Clause 14
Clause 14
Court may order payment of costs by aided person in certain event
(1)
Where it appears to a court or judge that a legal aid certificate has been obtained by fraud or misrepresentation, the court or judge may order the aided person to pay the costs of the Director or of the solicitor who acted for him or the costs of the other party, or the costs of both the Director or the solicitor and the other party.
(2)
In subsection (1), a reference to an “aided person” includes, in any case where the legal aid certificate has been cancelled before the making of the order, the person who immediately before the cancellation was the aided person.
(3)
Where it appears to a court or judge that an aided person has acted improperly in bringing or defending any legal proceedings or in the conduct of them, the court or judge may order the aided person to pay the costs of the Director or of the solicitor who acted for him or the costs of the other party, or the costs of both the Director or the solicitor and the other party.
(4)
Where an order is made under subsection (1) or (3), the costs shall be taxed as if the party ordered to pay them were not an aided person.
(5)
The costs so ordered to be paid shall, unless otherwise directed by the order, include —
fees and charges of the nature referred to in section 12(3)(a) and (b); and
any sums which, pursuant to section 13(3), were expended by the Director in meeting out-of-pocket expenses or were advanced by the Director for that purpose.
(6)
Where the costs of the Director or the solicitor who acted for the aided person ordered to be paid under subsection (1) or (3) include any of the fees, charges or sums referred to in subsection (5), then if any amount is recovered by the Director in respect of such costs, the same shall be applied in the first instance in or towards the satisfaction of such fees, charges or sums.