SINGAPORE — The public funds used to pay for the newly created Public Defender's Office is"money well spent" as it goes to an important, fair and just cause, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Thursday as he addressed concerns about the funding of such pro-bono legal schemes in Singapore.
This was initially done by indirect funding to the legal fraternity to provide pro-bono services to those with lower income, said Mr Wong.With the establishment of the state-funded Public Defender's Office, Mr Wong said the move is a"major update" to Singapore's criminal justice system and noted the Government's shift from its previous principle that the state should not pay to defend accused persons, except in capital cases.
With the launch of the new office, public defenders can now provide criminal defence aid to those who face non-capital criminal charges — offences that are not punishable by death penalty, and will be available to accused persons with limited means.Mr Wong said that the office will be fully funded by the Government and staffed by full-time criminal defence lawyers hired by the Ministry of Law .
The scope of coverage is also widened to all types of criminal offences, with specific exceptions, said MinLaw in a statement.
Probono from their profession not able to identified ground item. 1 position without basic salary and only allowance from group (self called politic) decide paid that cannot be recognized. INTL standard requirement. Such Sultan/Agong/foreign monarchy post? Framework from lawyer?