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In forceAmendedUpdated to 1 May 2026
Contents

Act of Parliament

Public Defenders Act 2022

Part 1

Preliminary

Official textFrom Singapore Statutes Online, unchanged

s 1Short title and commencement

This Act is the Public Defenders Act 2022 and comes into operation on a date that the Minister appoints by notification in the Gazette.

s 2Interpretation

(1)

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires —

“aided accused person” means an individual who is issued a Grant of Aid;

“assigned solicitor” means a solicitor from an appropriate panel of solicitors established under section 4 who is assigned any matter mentioned in section 4(1)(a) or (b) by the Chief Public Defender;

“Chief Public Defender” means the Chief Public Defender appointed under section 3(1);

“court” means any court of competent jurisdiction in Singapore before which any proceedings are heard;

“criminal appeal” means any appeal under Part 20 of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010;

“criminal application” means —

(a)

any application for review of an earlier decision, a case to be stated, a criminal reference or a criminal revision of a case under Division 1B, 2, 3 or 4 of Part 20 of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010, and includes any case stated or revision of a case on a court’s own motion or any criminal reference by the Public Prosecutor mentioned in that Part; or

(b)

any criminal motion under Division 5 of Part 20 of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010;

“criminal defence aid” means criminal defence aid granted under this Act;

“excluded offence” has the meaning given by section 8(2);

“Grant of Aid” means a document issued under section 12 or 20 stating that criminal defence aid is granted to an individual (whether on a provisional basis or otherwise);

“minor” means an individual who is below 21 years of age;

“permanent resident” means a permanent resident of Singapore as defined by section 2 of the Immigration Act 1959;

“proceedings” means any proceedings mentioned in section 8(1) or 12(8) in respect of which a Grant of Aid may be or is issued;

“public defender” means a public officer or any other individual appointed under section 3(6);

“solicitor” means an advocate and solicitor of the Supreme Court.

(2)

For the purposes of this Act, a guardian of a minor is —

(a)

a parent (whether biological or adoptive) of the minor;

(b)

an individual who, not being a parent of the minor, is lawfully appointed by deed or will or by an order of a competent court to be the guardian of the minor; or

(c)

any other individual whom the Chief Public Defender has reasonable grounds to believe —

(i)

has for the time being the charge, custody, or care and control, of the minor; or

(ii)

is for the time being making financial provision for the support of the minor.

Part 2

Appointment of Chief Public Defender, Solicitors, Etc.

Read on from Part 2

Part 3

Criminal Defence Aid

Read on from Part 3

Part 4

Miscellaneous

Read on from Part 4

Schedules