Coroners Act 2010 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 4 · Post-Mortem Examination and Powers of Coroner to Order Burial, Cremation or Exhumation
22. Power of Coroner to order release for burial, cremation, etc.
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Where a death which is, or appears to be, a reportable death has been reported to a Coroner and the body is in Singapore, the Coroner has control of the body until the earlier of the following occurs:
reportable death
“reportable death” means any death the circumstances of which are set out in the Second Schedule;
the Minister issues a certificate in respect of the body under section 17A(1), unless the Minister’s certificate is revoked and the Coroner resumes control of the body by virtue of section 17A(4)(c);
the Coroner issues an order to release the body under subsection (3).
If a post-mortem examination has been ordered on the body, the Coroner may issue the order under subsection (3) only after the post‑mortem examination has been concluded.
body
“body” means a dead person, and includes any part of a person (whether or not the identity of the person concerned is known when the part is discovered or is later determined) —(a)without which no person can live; or(b)discovered in such circumstances or such state that it is probable that the person is dead,but does not include a foetus or a stillborn child within the meaning of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act 2021;
The Coroner may, whether or not he or she considers that an inquiry is necessary, order the release of a body —
Coroner
“Coroner” means a Coroner appointed under section 3(1), and includes the State Coroner;
for burial or cremation;
for the body to be transported out of Singapore; or
for the retention of the body for use in any manner in accordance with law,and if the Coroner so orders, must issue a certificate of his or her order to release the body.
Where a reportable death has occurred or is suspected to have occurred and the body is in Singapore, any person who, without reasonable excuse, the burden of proving which is on the accused in a prosecution —
buries, cremates, transports out of Singapore or otherwise uses or disposes of that body; or
causes that body to be buried, cremated, transported out of Singapore or otherwise used or disposed of,without the certificate of the Minister mentioned in subsection (1)(a) that has not been revoked or the order of a Coroner under subsection (3), shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both.