Our Divisions
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Our Work
The Economic Crimes & Governance Division (EGD) is one of the three divisions within the Attorney-General’s Chambers that are organisational extensions of the Attorney-General's role as the Public Prosecutor. Under Article 35(8) of the Constitution, the Attorney-General has powers to institute, conduct or discontinue any proceedings for any offence. Section 11(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010 further provides that the Attorney-General shall be the Public Prosecutor, with control and direction of all criminal prosecutions and proceedings.
EGD is responsible for prosecutions and all related appeals in respect of financial crimes and corruption cases investigated by the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) and the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), respectively, as well as regulatory enforcement matters affecting the financial services sector, judicial review relating to criminal law proceedings and contempt of court cases.
Officers of the EGD comprise Deputy Public Prosecutors (DPPs) and Assistant Public Prosecutors (APPs), under the authority of the Attorney-General. DPPs conduct criminal prosecutions and also represent the State in other proceedings in the Subordinate Courts and High Court. They also conduct Magistrate's Appeals and Criminal Appeals. APPs conduct criminal prosecutions in the Subordinate Courts only.
Besides their litigation work, DPPs also exercise the Attorney-General's control and direction of criminal prosecutions by directing the CAD and CPIB in their investigations. Investigation Papers from these enforcement agencies are submitted to EGD for DPPs to evaluate whether any offences have been disclosed and, if so, what charges should be preferred against the accused persons. Where further investigations are necessary, DPPs give directions for them to be carried out.
In addition, DPPs provide advice concerning financial regulatory enforcement matters, and work closely with the relevant agencies.
EGD maintains a satellite office in the CAD, to provide on-the-spot legal advice to their investigators, and to facilitate the disposition of cases involving complex economic crimes.
The DPPs of the Division are also concurrently State Counsel, and in that capacity represent the Attorney-General in judicial review of criminal matters and contempt cases, preparing the necessary papers, arguing in court as well as having conduct of any appeals.
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