Clause 126

by deleting the words “any proceedings” in subsection (2) and substituting the words “any matter or proceeding”;

by inserting, immediately after the word “justice,” in subsection (2), the words “public safety,”; and

by inserting, immediately after subsection (4), the following subsections:“(5) A State Court that hears the whole or any part of any matter or proceeding in camera may, in its discretion, permit any of the following individuals to be present in the courtroom while that matter or proceeding is heard in camera:

any journalist who reports news for a newspaper or a broadcasting service;

any individual whom the court determines has a sufficient interest in that matter or proceeding;

any other individual that the court specifies in any particular case.(6) For the purposes of subsection (2), the matters that a State Court may consider, when deciding whether it is expedient in the interests of justice, public safety, public security or propriety, or for other sufficient reason, to hear the whole or any part of any matter or proceeding in camera, include the following matters:

whether the defence of any accused person in that matter or proceeding will be prejudiced by the presence of any member of the public in the courtroom;

whether any accused person or witness in that matter or proceeding has any legitimate interest in privacy that needs to be protected;

whether the object of that matter or proceeding will be defeated by publicity if that matter or proceeding is heard in open court;

whether any accused person or witness in that matter or proceeding has any legitimate interest in protecting the confidentiality of any information that may be disclosed during the hearing of that matter or proceeding;

whether any information that may be disclosed during the hearing of that matter or proceeding will be prejudicial to the interests of Singapore.(7) In this section —“broadcasting service” has the same meaning as in section 2(1) of the Broadcasting Act (Cap. 28);“newspaper” has the same meaning as in section 2(1) of the Newspaper and Printing Presses Act (Cap. 206).”.