Deputy chief prosecutor, Drew & Napier director join senior counsel ranks

Of all the cases Mr Christopher Ong Siu Jin has prosecuted over the last 27 years, the murder of two-year-old Nonoi by her stepfather has stuck with him.

- Christine Tan

Mr Ong, 52, a deputy chief prosecutor in the Attorney-General's Chambers' crime division, led the prosecution of Nonoi's stepfather Mohammed Ali Johari in 2007.

Mr Ong was one of two lawyers appointed senior counsel by Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon at the opening of the legal year on Jan 13.

The other is Ms Blossom Hing Shan Shan, 51, director of dispute resolution and corporate restructuring and workouts at Drew & Napier.

Senior counsel are an elite group of lawyers recognised for their advocacy skills, knowledge of the law, and professional standing. They have the right to suffix the initials "SC" to their names.

Singapore now has 100 senior counsel among 6,348 legal practitioners, and 82 of them are still in practice.

Mr Ong and Ms Hing are the first two senior counsel to be appointed after the selection committee comprising the Chief Justice, the Attorney-General and judges of appeal - refined the appointment criteria in 2024.

Chief Justice Menon said the committee would place greater emphasis on applicants' tangible contributions to the development of Singapore law, and on their contributions to the profession.

Mr Ong has handled murder, drug trafficking and money laundering cases, with high-profile ones such as the City Harvest Church and oil tycoon O.K. Lim trials under his belt.