Singapore legislation
Section 402
Section 402
Power to award compensation and costs
(1)
If in any case a Magistrate’s Court acquits the accused and is of opinion that the prosecution was frivolous or vexatious it may, in its discretion either on the application of the accused or on its own motion order the complainant or the person on whose information the prosecution was instituted to pay to the accused, or to each or any of the accused where there are more than one, such compensation not exceeding $50 as the court thinks fit:Provided that the Court —
shall record and consider any objections which the complainant or informant may urge against the making of the order; and
shall record its reasons for making the order.
(2)
Whenever in like circumstances an accused is acquitted by the High Court or a District Court, the Court may, in addition to exercising the powers conferred on a Magistrate’s Court by subsection (1), order the complainant or informant to pay to the accused, or to each or any of them, the full costs, charges and expenses, to be taxed by the Registrar or District Judge, incurred by the accused in and about his defence.
(3)
Such compensation shall be no bar to an action for false imprisonment.[401