White Collar Crime

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.

Offences under the Companies Act, as well as some Penal Code offences such as Criminal Breach of Trust (CBT), cheating, offence under Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA), Securities Industry Act are currently known as white collar crimes.

(A) Companies Act Offences

Companies Act offences normally only carries a fine. It is however incorrect to say that such offences do not attract a custody sentence.  There are precedents in which even a S163 offence under the Companies Act can carry a jail sentence. Likewise, for raising capital when one is not a public company, the Court may and would impose a custodial sentence. The Australian Courts have imposed sentences of 6 months or more, depending upon the amount of capital raised. Even an infringement under S76 Companies Act can carry a custodial sentence.

(B) Prevention of Corruption Act

Both the giver and recipient are liable to be charged.

For public servants, the punishment will be more severe. The sentencing benchmark in the recent case of PP v Wong Chee Meng is instructive [2020]

The Courts have imposed custodial sentences for corruption offences involving offenders in the private sector since a few years ago. For corruption involving offenders in the private sector, the quantum of the gratification, the manner in which the corrupt act was carried out, and whether the company has suffered any serious prejudice as a result of the corruption, are important factors which determine whether a fine is appropriate, or if a custodial sentence will be imposed, the length of the custodial sentence.

Besides a custodial sentence or fine, the Court will have to impose a penalty (usually the amount equivalent to the gratification) ,so that the gratification will be disgorged from the offender. Recently, the distinction between corruption in the private sector and public has somewhat lessened- more cases of custodial sentences for private sector corruption. Even if the Accused paid the penalty imposed, this does not bar the employers from making a claim against him later.

A notable case on corruption is the recent case of Tey Tsun Hang (2014). The law professor was convicted at the District Court and acquitted on appeal at the High Court. The well written Judgment of Justice Woo is instructive and a must read.

(C ) Criminal Breach of Trust

For simple CBT involving very small amount wherein full restitution has been made, a fine may be imposed under s406. The usual sentence is however a short custodial sentence. For s409 cases, custodial sentence depends on the value appropriated, and the capacity of the Accused when the offence happened. In PP v Tan Cheng Yew (2012), the Accused was sentenced to 6 years jail for the s409 offence as the amount misappropriated was huge. The sentence for the s420 charge was 3 years. The total sentence was 12 years in that case.

(D) Shares Rigging

The Court may impose a custodial sentence, although in a few cases, the Accuseds were fined.

(E) Forgery Offences

The benchmark is usually a custodial sentence, although recently in 2017, in one case the Accused was fined for forging a bank statement/IRAs documents.

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.

How Criminal Law SG can help you?

WM Low and Partners have a team of experienced criminal defence lawyers to assist you in white collar crimes. We handle a wide variety of white collar crime cases from the Criminal Breach of Trust (CBT), cheating, forgery to the offence under Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) and defend numerous of our clients from such allegations. We can be the best choice when it comes to choosing your criminal lawyer in Singapore.

We also have expertise in handling Family Law Cases. For more information click here