Attorney-General of Singapore

Functions

The attorney-general of Singapore has two distinct roles: legal adviser to the Singapore Government and public prosecutor, assisted by legal officers in the four divisions of the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC).

Legal adviser to the government

The attorney-general's role as the Government's legal adviser is performed by the AGC's Civil Division. The functions of the attorney-general include advising ministries and organs of state on legal matters; drafting and vetting contracts and legal documents; and representing the Government in international initiatives and litigation matters, among others.

The International Affairs Division advises Government agencies on international-law issues, represents Singapore in bilateral and multilateral negotiations, and negotiates and drafts multilateral and bilateral legal instruments, among other roles.

The Legislation Division comprises four groups. The Law Drafting Group drafts legislation and advises Government agencies on development of legislation. The Legislative Editorial and Revision Group undertakes law revision. The Law Publication Group maintains Singapore Statutes Online, among other duties. The Business Services and Governance Group provides administrative support to the other groups.

Public Prosecutor

The attorney-general's role as the public prosecutor is performed by the AGC's Crime Division. Prosecutorial discretion grants the attorney-general the power to institute, conduct or discontinue any prosecution at the attorney-general's discretion.

History

Pre-1867

Between the grant of the Second Charter of Justice in 1826 and the formation of the Crown colony of the Straits Settlements in 1867, the function of legal adviser to the government in Singapore was vested in various offices. From 1826 to 1855, it was the Recorder of the Prince of Wales Island, Malacca and Singapore; from 1855 to 1864, the Recorder of Singapore; and from 1864 to 1867, the Crown Counsel, Singapore.

1867–1942: Attorney-General of the Straits Settlements

The office of Attorney-General was created on 1 April 1867, when Sir Thomas Braddell was appointed as the first attorney-general of the Straits Settlements. He was based in Singapore while his solicitor-general, Daniel Logan, was based in Penang.

1942–1945: Japanese occupation of Singapore

Following the fall of Singapore on 15 February 1942, Japanese troops arrested the attorney-general, Charles Gough Howell, KC, who died in Japanese captivity. Concurrently, the civilian courts ceased to function.

Subsequently, the Japanese military administration established the office of Kensatsu-kan, or Attorney-General and Public Prosecutor, presumably on 27 May 1942 when the civilian courts were re-opened by proclamation.

1945–1946: British Military Administration

Following the formal surrender of Japanese forces in Southeast Asia on 12 September 1945, the responsibility of rendering legal advice to the British Military Administration of Malaya lay with its Chief Legal Officer.

1946–1959: Attorney-General of the Colony of Singapore

When Singapore became a Crown colony on 1 April 1946, Sir Edward John Davies, KC was appointed as the first attorney-general of the Colony of Singapore.

1959–1965: State Advocate-General of the State of Singapore

After the State of Singapore gained full internal self-governance in 1959, Ahmad Mohamed Ibrahim was appointed State Advocate-General, becoming Singapore's first non-British legal adviser to the government.

Post-1965: Attorney-General of the Republic of Singapore

Following the Republic of Singapore's independence on 9 August 1965, Ahmad Mohamed Ibrahim became the country's first attorney-general.

The appointment of Lucien Wong, SC, as the ninth attorney-general, was debated in Parliament. He was aged 63 at the time of his appointment; the retirement age is 60 and he was older than the previous Attorney-General who retired at age 60. Minister for Law K. Shanmugam, who was a senior partner with Wong at Allen & Gledhill, argued that his appointment, being for a specified term, was “in accordance with Article 35 of the Constitution.”

Wong had previously been the personal lawyer of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong; in that capacity, he advised Lee on issues relating to the will of his father Lee Kuan Yew.

List of officeholders (1867–1965)

Attorney-General of the Straits Settlements

''Kensatsu-kan of Syonan-to''

Chief Legal Officer, British Military Administration of Malaya

Attorney-General of the Crown Colony of Singapore

State Advocate-General of the State of Singapore

List of attorneys-general (1965–present)

Notable incidents

Wrongful conviction

In September 2020, the AGC conducted a prosecutorial review for a wrongful conviction case of a domestic worker accused of a crime.

Letters of prisoners on death row

On 11 October 2024, the Court of Appeal ruled that the Singapore Prison Service and AGC had acted unlawfully by disclosing and requesting prisoners’ letters.

Notes

Bibliography

References

1. [https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/CONS1963#pr35- Constitution of the Republic of Singapore] (1999 Reprint), art 35(1).
2. Woon, Walter. (29 September 2017). "The public prosecutor, politics and the rule of law". [[The Straits Times]].
3. (17 February 2017). "Overview of Functions".
4. (9 July 2017). "Overview of Functions".
5. (23 February 2017). "Overview of Functions".
6. (23 February 2017). "Overview of Functions".
7. (21 Feb 2017). "Overview of AGC's History".
8. (2017). "A History Of The Singapore Legal Service". [[Singapore Academy of Law]].
9. Kevin Tan Yew Lee, "The Evolution of Singapore's Modern Constitution: Developments From 1945 to the Present Day" (1989) 1 SAcLJ 1 at 5–6.
10. "History".
11. hermes. (2017-01-11). "Exchange over A-G's appointment age".
12. (2017-07-25). "SDP urges President Tony Tan to revoke Lucien Wong's appointment as Attorney General".
13. "Attorney-General V K Rajah to step down next January". ChannelNewsAsia.
14. (16 January 2017). "Veteran lawyer Lucien Wong appointed Attorney-General". [[Channel NewsAsia]].
15. (13 September 2020). "The curious case of the maid, the business tycoon and the pink knife". The Straits Times.
16. "Attorney-General Lucien Wong not involved in prosecution, review of case of CAG chairman's former maid: AGC".
17. (10 September 2020). "A-G not involved in ex-maid's case, recuses himself from review".
18. (9 September 2020). "A-G Lucien Wong not involved in ex-maid Parti Liyani's case, has recused himself from review which deputy A-G Hri Kumar will lead: AGC". The Straits Times.
19. "Parti Liyani's case: Attorney-General Lucien Wong not involved in prosecution; review led by Hri Kumar, says AGC".
20. (11 October 2024). "Court rules Singapore Prison Service, AGC acted unlawfully by disclosing and requesting prisoners’ letters". CNA.