From Shawn Toh
Senior Assistant Director, Communications,
Law Society of Singapore
The Law Society refers to the letter "No legal aid for some who face mandatory imprisonment, caning" (June 13). Under the Law Society's Criminal Legal Aid Scheme (CLAS), the society provides legal aid for most non-capital criminal offences with the assistance of volunteer lawyers.
Since its launch in 1985, CLAS has been able to gradually expand its reach. Offences under 15 statutes, including the Penal Code, are now included in CLAS. In view of the need to prioritise resources, offences under the Moneylenders Act are not currently covered. The main priority of CLAS is to ensure that accused persons who claim trial and pass the means test are legally represented.
It has not been possible to extend CLAS to all cases where the accused person intends to plead guilty.
Nevertheless, CLAS extends to cases involving accused persons who are mentally ill and young offenders, even where they intend to plead guilty, because of the need to assist the more vulnerable segments of society.
To date, CLAS has helped more than 3,637 needy persons obtain free legal representation in criminal cases.
The Law Society is optimistic that, with the increasing emphasis on lawyers doing pro bono work, it will be possible for CLAS to continue to evolve, to help even more accused persons and expand the scope of cases that may qualify for assistance.
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