Overview of Functions

The Attorney-General plays the key 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 of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010 provides that the Attorney-General shall be the Public Prosecutor, with control and direction of all criminal prosecutions and proceedings.

AGC officers of the Crime Division act as Deputy Public Prosecutors (DPPs) and Assistant Public Prosecutors (APPs) under the authority of the Public Prosecutor. The Crime Division is responsible for all criminal prosecutions. These include:

• rendering legal advice to the Government’s ministries and agencies on criminal matters
• dealing with matters under the Criminal Law Temporary Provisions Act
• advising the Police on Police disciplinary proceedings
• dealing with applications for judicial reviews
• advising on clemency petitions made to the President
• dealing with offences relating to race and religion
• dealing with crimes relating to professionals
• dealing with crimes affecting the administration of justice
• dealing with non-fatal traffic offences and Immigration Act offences
• dealing with matters under the Visiting Forces Act
• evaluating requests for fiats for private prosecutions
• handling capital, non-capital and specialised crimes cases in the High Court and offences under various Statutes, including the Penal Code in the State Courts
• handing Criminal Appeals and Magistrates’ Appeals in the Court of Appeal and the High Court for cases arising from the offences prosecuted in the High Court, Magistrates’ Courts and District Courts
• handling other ancillary hearings such as Criminal Revisions, Criminal Motions, Criminal References and Originating Summonses in the Court of Appeal and the High Court
• attending Disposal Inquiries
• attending Coroners’ Inquiries
• supervising prosecutions conducted by other Government departments and agencies
• liaising with AGC colleagues on international criminal matters
• providing input on drafting of legislation in areas involving criminal legal procedure
• conducting research on specific criminal justice issues
• formulating policies and collaborating with Ministries on legal reforms
• evaluating evidence disclosed during the course of investigations carried out by enforcement agencies, such as the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD), the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) and the Technology Crime Division of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and rendering legal advice to these enforcement agencies
• directing further investigations to be carried out by enforcement agencies
• dealing with offences under the Securities and Futures Act, Prevention of Corruption Act, Companies Act, Business Registration Act, Bankruptcy Act, Banking Act, Financial Advisers Act and Insurance Act
• dealing with offences such as cheating, forgery and criminal breach of trust under the Penal Code and other statutes, such as the Computer Misuse Act
• dealing with serious offences involving fraud and embezzlement under the Penal Code
• rendering legal advice to the Monetary Authority of Singapore, and handling matters pertaining to asset recovery
• developing prosecution policies and engages in policy and legislative review in technology crime