Obligation to report death
Open ↗5. —(1) Any person who becomes aware of a death which is, or appears to be, a reportable death must, as soon as reasonably practicable, make a report of the death to a police officer. (2) Any person who, without reasonable excuse, the burden of proving which is on the accused in a prosecution, contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,500 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month or to both. (3) Nothing in this section or section 6 derogates from any other obligation to report a death under any other written law.
—(1) Any person who becomes aware of a death which is, or appears to be, a reportable death must, as soon as reasonably practicable, make a report of the death to a police officer.
(2) Any person who, without reasonable excuse, the burden of proving which is on the accused in a prosecution, contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,500 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month or to both.
(3) Nothing in this section or section 6 derogates from any other obligation to report a death under any other written law.
Reporting of death occurring in official custody
Open ↗6. —(1) Where a person dies — ( a ) in the course of being arrested or detained by any person in the exercise, or purported exercise, of any power of arrest or detention under any written law; or ( b ) while he or she is in official custody, it is the duty of — ( c ) the person exercising the power of arrest or detention; ( d ) the person in charge of the place of custody where the deceased died; or ( e ) if the deceased was outside the place of custody when he or she died, the person in whose official custody the deceased was at the time of his or her death, as the case may be, to prepare and submit to a police officer a report of the death within 24 hours upon the person becoming aware of that death. (2) A report under subsection (1) is not required where the death is the result of the lawful execution of a death sentence. (3) Any person who, without reasonable excuse, the burden of proving which is on the accused in a prosecution, contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.
—(1) Where a person dies — ( a ) in the course of being arrested or detained by any person in the exercise, or purported exercise, of any power of arrest or detention under any written law; or ( b ) while he or she is in official custody, it is the duty of — ( c ) the person exercising the power of arrest or detention; ( d ) the person in charge of the place of custody where the deceased died; or ( e ) if the deceased was outside the place of custody when he or she died, the person in whose official custody the deceased was at the time of his or her death, as the case may be, to prepare and submit to a police officer a report of the death within 24 hours upon the person becoming aware of that death.
(2) A report under subsection (1) is not required where the death is the result of the lawful execution of a death sentence.
(3) Any person who, without reasonable excuse, the burden of proving which is on the accused in a prosecution, contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.
Reporting of death by police officer
Open ↗7. Every police officer who — ( a ) comes across; or ( b ) receives any information about, a death which is, or appears to be, a reportable death must, as soon as reasonably practicable, make a report at a police station giving details of any information which the police officer obtains with regard to the death.
Duty to preserve medical records by persons in charge of hospital, medical clinic and place of custody
Open ↗8. —(1) Where a person dies — ( a ) while in any hospital or medical clinic for medical treatment or care; or ( b ) while he or she is in official custody, the person in charge of the hospital, medical clinic or place of custody (as the case may be) must preserve all medical records, healthcare records and any other document pertaining to the medical treatment or care of the deceased as are in the possession of the hospital, medical clinic or place of custody for such period as may be prescribed. (2) Any person who, without reasonable excuse, the burden of proving which is on the accused in a prosecution, fails to comply with subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.
—(1) Where a person dies — ( a ) while in any hospital or medical clinic for medical treatment or care; or ( b ) while he or she is in official custody, the person in charge of the hospital, medical clinic or place of custody (as the case may be) must preserve all medical records, healthcare records and any other document pertaining to the medical treatment or care of the deceased as are in the possession of the hospital, medical clinic or place of custody for such period as may be prescribed.
(2) Any person who, without reasonable excuse, the burden of proving which is on the accused in a prosecution, fails to comply with subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.
Body not to be moved
Open ↗9. —(1) In the case of a reportable death, a person must not remove, or in any manner alter the position of, a body unless the removal or moving of the body is — ( a ) authorised by a police officer; or ( b ) necessary for the purpose of preventing any destruction or damage to the body. (2) Any person who, without reasonable excuse, the burden of proving which is on the accused in a prosecution, contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.
—(1) In the case of a reportable death, a person must not remove, or in any manner alter the position of, a body unless the removal or moving of the body is — ( a ) authorised by a police officer; or ( b ) necessary for the purpose of preventing any destruction or damage to the body.
(2) Any person who, without reasonable excuse, the burden of proving which is on the accused in a prosecution, contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.
Source: Singapore Statutes Online (Attorney-General's Chambers), © Government of Singapore.
