Singapore legislation

Clause 75

Repeal and re-enactment of sections 284 to 289

Sections 284 to 289 of the Penal Code are repealed and the following sections substituted therefor:“Rash or negligent conduct with respect to dangerous or harmful substance284.—

(1)

A person shall be guilty of an offence who does, with any dangerous or harmful substance, any act so rashly or negligently as —

(a)

to be likely to cause hurt or injury to any other person;

(b)

to endanger human life;

(c)

to cause hurt to any other person;

(d)

to cause grievous hurt or injury to any other person; or

(e)

to cause the death of any other person.(2) In subsection (1), an act includes an omission to take such measure with any dangerous or harmful substance in a person’s possession as is sufficient to guard against any probable danger to human life, grievous hurt or hurt from such substance.(3) Any person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1) or (2) shall on conviction be punished —

(a)

in the case of an offence under subsection (1)(a) or (b), with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to $5,000, or with both;

(b)

in the case of an offence under subsection (1)(c), with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 3 years, or with fine, or with both;

(c)

in the case of an offence under subsection (1)(d), with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 6 years, or with fine, or with both; and

(d)

in the case of an offence under subsection (1)(e), with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 7 years, or with fine, or with both.(4) In this section, “dangerous or harmful substance” includes fire or any thing or matter that is likely to cause fire.Causing or contributing to risk of dangerous fire285.—

(1)

Whoever, with any fire or any thing that is likely to cause fire, rashly or negligently causes or substantially contributes to the risk of causing a fire, shall be guilty of an offence if such fire occurs and any of the following applies:

(a)

that fire is likely to cause hurt or injury to any other person;

(b)

that fire endangers human life;

(c)

that fire causes damage to or diminishes the value or utility of any property belonging to any other person or the Government;

(d)

that fire causes hurt or injury to any other person;

(e)

that fire causes grievous hurt to any other person;

(f)

that fire causes death to any other person.(2) Any person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1) shall on conviction be punished —

(a)

in the case of an offence under subsection (1)(a) or (b), with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to $5,000, or with both;

(b)

in the case of an offence under subsection (1)(c), with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 18 months, or with fine, or with both;

(c)

in the case of an offence under subsection (1)(d), with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 3 years, or with fine, or with both;

(d)

in the case of an offence under subsection (1)(e), with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 6 years, or with fine, or with both; and

(e)

in the case of an offence under subsection (1)(f), with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 7 years, or with fine, or with both.Presumption of cause of fire

286. In any proceedings for an offence under section 285, where any person deposits, drops, places or throws a cigarette or part thereof, cigar, match stick, charcoal, incense, any form of embers or any thing that is likely to cause fire in any place, and a fire occurs at that place or in the vicinity of that place within 60 minutes from the time of that act, that person is, until the contrary is proved, presumed to have substantially contributed to the risk of causing that fire.Rash or negligent conduct with respect to any machinery in possession or under charge of offender287.—

(1)

A person shall be guilty of an offence who does, with any machinery in the person’s possession or under the person’s care, any act so rashly or negligently as —

(a)

to be likely to cause hurt or injury to any other person;

(b)

to endanger human life;

(c)

to cause hurt or injury to any other person;

(d)

to cause grievous hurt to any other person; or

(e)

to cause the death of any other person.(2) In subsection (1), an act includes an omission to take such measure with any machinery in the person’s possession or under the person’s care as is sufficient to guard against any probable danger to human life, grievous hurt or hurt from such machinery.(3) Any person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1) shall on conviction be punished —

(a)

in the case of an offence under subsection (1)(a) or (b), with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to $5,000, or with both;

(b)

in the case of an offence under subsection (1)(c), with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 3 years, or with fine, or with both;

(c)

in the case of an offence under subsection (1)(d), with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 6 years, or with fine, or with both; and

(d)

in the case of an offence under subsection (1)(e), with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 7 years, or with fine, or with both.Negligence in pulling down or repairing buildings288.—

(1)

A person shall be guilty of an offence who, in pulling down or repairing any building, knowingly or negligently omits to take such measure as is sufficient to guard against any probable danger to human life from the fall of that building or any part of the building and such omission —

(a)

endangers human life; or

(b)

causes the death of any other person.(2) Any person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1) shall on conviction be punished —

(a)

in the case of an offence under subsection (1)(a), with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to $5,000, or with both; and

(b)

in the case of an offence under subsection (1)(b), with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 7 years, or with fine, or with both.Negligence with respect to any animal289.—

(1)

A person shall be guilty of an offence who knowingly or negligently omits to take such measure with any animal as is sufficient to guard against any probable danger to human life, or any probable danger of grievous hurt from such animal and such omission —

(a)

is likely to cause grievous hurt;

(b)

endangers human life;

(c)

causes grievous hurt to any other person; or

(d)

causes the death of any other person.(2) Any person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1) shall on conviction be punished —

(a)

in the case of an offence under subsection (1)(a) or (b), with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to $5,000, or with both;

(b)

in the case of an offence under subsection (1)(c), with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 6 years, or with fine, or with both; and

(c)

in the case of an offence under subsection (1)(d), with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 7 years, or with fine, or with both.”.

Read in full context — Criminal Law Reform Bill →