Murali Pillai on the Legal Aid in Criminal Matters (Amendment) and Other Matters Bill

Singapore is in the process of strengthening its international criminal cooperation regime, strengthening its national strategy against money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing, and aligning with international standards. The measures will further improve its processes and capabilities in support of the global Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Minister of State for Justice Murali Pillai said this in Parliament on Monday (November 11). A new bill makes changes in the following areas. First, Singapore’s law enforcement authorities will have the authority to receive statements from individuals to support criminal investigations abroad, not only after criminal proceedings have been initiated. Second, Singapore can assist in identifying, freezing, seizing or confiscating property intended to be used in connection with the commission of a foreign crime. Third, the draft law clarifies when a foreign proceeding is considered closed for the purposes of enforcing foreign confiscation orders. Fourth, Singapore will be able to enforce foreign confiscation orders from a “competent authority” in addition to such court orders. The bill also proposes measures to prevent trusts from being abused by criminals. These include changes to the scope of information trustees must obtain, powers to investigate trustees who breach their duties and updating sanctions for non-compliance. Under the bill, Singapore will also be able to make an extradition request to any territory by changing the definition of “foreign state”.