Law. Faith. Justice. Community. Culture.
300 – Inquiries received by tribunals in first three months
85 – Pre-filing consultations held
27 – Actual court filings
Meaning that presumably a substantial number of parties managed to resolve their disputes prior to court action. Most disputes are regarding excessive noise. Sometimes it just takes the real threat of legal action to nudge a stonewalling person to come to the table to mediate and resolve the dispute.
Public Prosecutor v Chow Chian Yow Joseph Brian [2016] SGHC 18
Significance: Singapore High Court judge cites John Stuart Mill’s “On Liberty”, applies regression analysis to plot graphs of benchmark sentences for a criminal offence, and lays down sentencing principles on offence of evading National Service (NS) without a valid exit permit under the Enlistment Act.
What is the criminal offence of criminal breach of trust (CBT)? What are the elements that make up the offence? When would it be criminal as opposed to a mere civil breach of trust or breach of contract? What are the sentencing norms and precedents as regards CBT?
Foo Jong Long Dennis v Ang Yee Lim Lawrence [2016] SGHC 10
Significance: Singapore High Court rejected party’s application to discharge opposing party’s solicitor pursuant to r 64(2) of the PCR, i.e. on the basis that the opposing party’s solicitor is likely a witness on a material question of fact at the trial.
Continue reading “Case Update: Foo Jong Long Dennis v Ang Yee Lim Lawrence [2016] SGHC 10”
Mok Kah Hong v Zheng Zhuan Yao [2016] SGCA 8
Significance: Court of Appeal orders a party in a civil not criminal case (divorce proceedings: division of matrimonial assets) to 8 months’ imprisonment for defying court orders, being liable for civil contempt of court. The Court set out helpful legal principles and guidelines on committal proceedings for civil contempt of court.
Abdul Rashid bin Abdul Manaf v Hii Yii Ann [2016] SGHCR 1
Signifiance: Singapore High Court sets out principles on the convenience and compellability of witnesses in determining forum non conveniens or natural forum for purposes of determining a stay of court proceedings.
What legal issues do you need to look out for when starting a business in Singapore? Confidentiality and non-disclosure, legal structure, financing, employees and licences: this article will cover some of these aspects.
Continue reading “Article: Setting Up A Start-up Business in Singapore”
Read the Straits Times report “Breaking the silence on financial abuse of elders”.
I once handled a legal case pro bono with the Legal Aid Bureau. Elderly lady was emotionally abused by her son and made to add his name as a joint tenant of her HDB property. He influenced and misled her to effectively transfer the property to him. (As a joint tenant, when the other joint tenant passes on, one is automatically made the remaining sole owner of the property.) Apparently there was some spiritual voodoo-esque thing going on as well.
What’s defamation, libel and slander? Defamation is the injury of another person’s reputation by exposing him to hatred, contempt or ridicule, or which tends to lower him in the esteem of right-thinking members of society. Libel and slander are forms of defamation. Libel is defamation in writing or image. Slander is spoken defamation. The key difference between the two is that special damages must be proven with regard to slander but not libel.
A person who has been defamed may bring an action or claim in the tort of defamation against the person defaming him. Related to this is the tort of malicious falsehood.
Continue reading “Article: Defamation, Libel, Slander, Malicious Falsehood”
Different legal structures are appropriate for different scenarios and considerations. This table sets out the possible options of legal structures and significant factors or considerations relating to each.