Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

publishedVersion

Publication Date

3-2013

Abstract

Article 35(8) of the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore states that the Attorney-General, as the Public Prosecutor, “shall have the power, exercisable at his discretion, to institute, conduct or discontinue any proceedings for any offence”. This prosecutorial discretion, though extremely wide, is not an unfettered one and must not be exercised in bad faith or in breach of constitutional rights. With respect to the equality provision in the Constitution, the Prosecution has to give unbiased consideration to all potential accused persons and avoid any irrelevant considerations. The article considers whether the presumption of the constitutionality of prosecutorial decisions and the onerous burden on the accused person to displace the presumption should be re-examined. Further, the Prosecutor should consider disclosing the reasons underlying the prosecutorial decisions as far as possible, subject to minimising potential risks and publishing guidelines on prosecutorial decision-making.

Discipline

Asian Studies | Constitutional Law

Research Areas

Public Interest Law, Community and Social Justice

Publication

Singapore Academy of Law Journal

Volume

25

Issue

1

First Page

15

Last Page

50

ISSN

0218-2009

Publisher

Singapore Academy of Law

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