Singapore legislation
Regulation 20
Regulation 20
Evidence
Subregulation 1
Subject to section 68 of the Act, the Appeal Advisory Committee —
is not bound by the provisions of the Evidence Act 1893 or by any other written law relating to evidence; and
may give directions as to —
the issues on which it requires evidence;
the nature of the evidence which it requires to decide those issues; and
the manner in which the evidence is to be placed before the Committee.
Subregulation 2
The Appeal Advisory Committee may admit or exclude any evidence adduced by any party or any witness —
whether oral or documentary;
whether admissible or inadmissible under any written law for the time being in force relating to the admissibility of evidence; and
whether or not the evidence was available when the contested decision of the Authority was made.
Subregulation 3
Where an oral hearing of the appeal is to be held, the Appeal Advisory Committee may, before the oral hearing, direct the parties to submit a list of witnesses, including expert witnesses, whom the parties intend to call, with a description of the subject matter of the testimony to be given by each witness and the relevance of the testimony to the points at issue between the parties.
Subregulation 4
The Appeal Advisory Committee may require any witness to give evidence on oath or affirmation, or to provide his or her testimony in writing, whether by way of a signed witness statement, an affidavit or any other form of recording.
Subregulation 5
The Appeal Advisory Committee may allow a witness to give evidence through a video link or by other means.
Subregulation 6
The Appeal Advisory Committee may, at any oral hearing of an appeal, allow, refuse to allow, or limit the appearance of a witness, or dispense with the need to call a witness to give oral evidence if a witness statement has been submitted in respect of that witness.
Subregulation 7
The Appeal Advisory Committee may, at any time before the Minister makes a decision (including after the Committee submits a report to the Minister under regulation 31), call for any further evidence or explanation from all or any of the parties to be given, in the presence of the other party or parties, that the Committee may consider necessary.
Subregulation 8
The Appeal Advisory Committee may determine whether any claim of legal privilege is valid.
Subregulation 9
To avoid doubt —
a party may request any witness to give oral evidence or to produce any document or material; and
a party (or his, her or its authorised representative, legal representative or authorised officer) may interview any witness or potential witness, prior to calling that person to give evidence or to produce any document or material, at any oral hearing of an appeal.