Law allowing detention without trial renewed for 5 more years

Act targeted at syndicates, secret societies used in cases where witnesses fear reprisal

- Samuel Devaraj

The Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act (CLTPA), which allows the Minister for Home Affairs to detain someone linked to syndicates and secret societies without trial, was extended for another five years.

The Bill to extend the Act was passed in Parliament on April 3, and is the 15th time the CLTPA has been extended. It was last extended by Parliament on Oct 21, 2019.

Widely known as Section 55, it was enacted in 1955 to deal with Singapore's gang problem. It now covers secret societies, unlicensed moneylending, drug trafficking, kidnapping and organised crime.

It has been used in cases in which prosecution was not viable, as witnesses refused to testify for fear of reprisal.

Speaking in Parliament on April 3, Minister of State for Home Affairs Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim said: "(The CLTPA) is a critical piece of legislation for us to deal with egregious criminal activities which threaten the sense of safety and security in Singapore, in particular the activities of gangs and secret societies." He said gangs and organised crime groups involved in criminal conduct, including money laundering and human trafficking, continue to be a big threat to societies globally.

He said that because of the way gangs operate, witness intimidation in gang trials is a serious concern for many jurisdictions.

He added that gangs have used technology and social networking sites such as X, Instagram and Facebook to intimidate witnesses.