Criminal Defense in
Singapore
Stiff prison sentences and harsh fines reflect the realities of Singapore. Hire a lawyer that looks out for the foreigner’s interest and helps you navigate through the complexities of the Singaporean criminal system.
Drug Possession
Under the Misuse of Drugs Act, the prescribed penalties for possession of small amounts of narcotics range from fines of up to $20,000 USD to a maximum of ten years in prison.
Drug Trafficking
As per Schedule 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, the death penalty may be prescribed if you are convicted of possessing a larger amount of narcotics.
Heroin - 15 grams or more
Cocaine - 30 grams or more
Morphine - 30 grams or more
Cannabis - 500 grams or more
Hashish - 200 grams or more
Methamphetamine - 250 grams or more
Opium - 1,200 grams or more
Smoking
Smokers will have a tough time finding places to smoke legally in Singapore. All indoor locations, public areas, bars, clubs, parks, etc are all non-smoking areas. Be sure to check for designated smoking areas to avoid any unneccesary fees.
E-Cigarettes
Vaporisers (like e-cigarettes and e-baraku) and refills are illegal in Thailand. These items may be confiscated and you could be fined or sent to prison for up to 10 years if convicted. Their sale or supply is also banned and you could face a heavy fine or up to 5 years imprisonment if found guilty.
Drug Testing
The Singaporean government has the ability to drug test anyone within its borders without warrant. Punishment of drug use does not stipulate between use in Singapore or use overseas. For first time offenders, punishment is one year in prison.
Chewing Gum
Maybe the most notorious Singaporean law is the 'ban' on chewing gum. It is true that the sale of chewing gum is outlawed in convenience stores however, the use of which is not banned outright.
Littering
Littering is taken extremely seriously in Singapore. First time offenders who litter smaller items like cigarette butts or candy wrappers are fined $300 USD. For bigger items like drink cans or bottles are considered 'defiant', are required to appear before the court and will most likely be required to do supervised public cleaning.
Homosexuality
This exerpt is taken directly from the Singaporean penal code:
Outrages on Decency (377A.) Any male person who, in public or private, commits, or abets the commission of, or procures or attempts to procure the commission by any male person of, any act of gross indecency with another male person, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 2 years.
Legal Assistance
Unlike the US and some Eurpoean countries, Singapore does not have a system of free legal assistance, except for capital cases.
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