This site is dedicated to issues in criminal law in Singapore, with brief write outs on various common offences and their respective prevailing sentencing, as well as the procedure of the criminal process in Singapore. The site is managed by a Singapore law firm.
This category of offences include simple theft, shoplifting, cheating etc.
Simple Theft
This is a section 379 offence. This type of offence usually carries a fine, especially if the item is small and restitution has been made for a first offender. Other factors include the circumstances of how and why the offence was committed, whether it involved multiple items or otherwise.
For repeat offender, a custodial sentence is appropriate, although the Courts have also imposed a fine for second time offender under special circumstances. The defence counsel would have to reconstruct the events that happened to determine whether the said act of appropriation has been committed and the intention of the person when the act was committed.
An act of taking the item out of the complainant’s possession without an intent to steal is not theft.
Theft in Dwelling
This is a more serious form of theft-as per the distinction drawn by the provisions in the Penal Code. This is a section 380 offence and carries mandatory jail sentence.
The length of sentence depends on inter alia, the value and number of the item(s) taken, whether restitution has been made, the circumstances of the offence etc. Most shoplifting offenders would be charged under this provision.
The starting point is often a few weeks jail, to perhaps a couple of months, even for a first offender. Recently this year (2006), a repeat offender(highly educated ex professional) had been jailed for one day and fined, due to exceptional circumstances in his case.
Simple Cheating
This is a section 417 offence, and the Court has a discretion to impose a fine only, as opposed to a section 420 offence, wherein a custodial sentence is mandatory.
It is always in the Accused’s interest to engage a counsel early, as the case may proceed for hearing within a few months or even a few weeks (where foreign witnesses are involved) as the case may be. Early and adequate preparation are absolutely necessary as life and liberty are at stake.
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