Singapore legislation
Section 185
Section 185
High Court’s power to transfer cases
(1)
Whenever it is made to appear to the High Court that —
a fair and impartial inquiry or trial cannot be had in any criminal court subordinate to it;
some question of law of unusual difficulty is likely to arise;
a view of the place in or near which any offence has been committed may be required for the satisfactory inquiry into or trial of the offence;
an order under this section will tend to the general convenience of the parties or witnesses; or
such an order is expedient for the ends of justice or is required by any provision of this Code,it may order that —
any particular criminal case shall be transferred from a criminal court subordinate to its authority to any other such criminal court of equal or superior jurisdiction; or
any particular criminal case shall be transferred to and tried before the High Court.
(2)
Any application for the exercise of the power conferred by this section may be made and order granted at any stage of any criminal proceeding before the trial or inquiry is finished and shall be made by motion which shall, except when the applicant is the Attorney-General or Solicitor-General, be supported by affidavit.
(3)
When an accused person makes an application under this section, the High Court may, if it thinks fit, direct him to execute a bond with or without sureties conditioned that he will, if convicted, pay the costs of the prosecution.
(4)
Every accused person making any such application shall give to the Public Prosecutor notice in writing of the application, together with a copy of the grounds on which it is made, and no order shall be made on the merits of the application unless at least 24 hours have elapsed between the giving of the notice and the hearing of the application. [184