Investigations into deaths
Open ↗10. —(1) A police officer who comes across or receives any information about any death which is, or appears to be, a reportable death must — ( a ) if the body is in Singapore, proceed immediately to the spot where the body is lying or the death is believed to have occurred; and ( b ) use his or her best endeavours to investigate the cause of and circumstances connected with the death of the deceased. (2) If the police officer is unable to comply with subsection (1), the police officer must immediately inform his or her superior officer who must depute some other police officer who must comply with that subsection. (3) Any police officer who has seen the body may — ( a ) cause the body to be removed to any place that the police officer may direct, pending an order of a Coroner to release the body; or ( b ) secure and preserve the scene where the body was found, pending further investigations.
—(1) A police officer who comes across or receives any information about any death which is, or appears to be, a reportable death must — ( a ) if the body is in Singapore, proceed immediately to the spot where the body is lying or the death is believed to have occurred; and ( b ) use his or her best endeavours to investigate the cause of and circumstances connected with the death of the deceased.
(2) If the police officer is unable to comply with subsection (1), the police officer must immediately inform his or her superior officer who must depute some other police officer who must comply with that subsection.
(3) Any police officer who has seen the body may — ( a ) cause the body to be removed to any place that the police officer may direct, pending an order of a Coroner to release the body; or ( b ) secure and preserve the scene where the body was found, pending further investigations.
Police officer to report to Coroner
Open ↗11. —(1) After a police officer has started investigations into a death, he or she must, as soon as reasonably practicable, inform a Coroner of the death and any particulars concerning the cause of death which have come to the police officer’s knowledge. (2) The police officer investigating into the cause of death must — ( a ) from time to time, furnish the Coroner with any further particulars concerning the death that may subsequently come to the police officer’s knowledge, together with the name of any person who has been arrested and charged in connection with the death; and ( b ) comply with any directions that the Coroner may give concerning the investigation.
—(1) After a police officer has started investigations into a death, he or she must, as soon as reasonably practicable, inform a Coroner of the death and any particulars concerning the cause of death which have come to the police officer’s knowledge.
(2) The police officer investigating into the cause of death must — ( a ) from time to time, furnish the Coroner with any further particulars concerning the death that may subsequently come to the police officer’s knowledge, together with the name of any person who has been arrested and charged in connection with the death; and ( b ) comply with any directions that the Coroner may give concerning the investigation.
Preliminary investigation by Coroner
Open ↗12. —(1) As soon as possible after a death is reported to a Coroner, the Coroner is to make a preliminary investigation into the cause of and circumstances connected with the death, including whether the death was due to natural causes. (2) In the preliminary investigation, a Coroner need not view the body, but may, if the Coroner thinks it necessary, do so — ( a ) at the place where the body is lying, or any other place to which the body has been moved; or ( b ) by a live video link, or by any other means that the State Coroner may approve which reasonably allows the Coroner to view and identify the body. (3) If after the preliminary investigation, a Coroner considers that the death was due to natural causes and that it is unnecessary to hold an inquiry, the Coroner may issue an order under section 22 for the release of the body. [Act 31 of 2021 wef 02/05/2023]
—(1) As soon as possible after a death is reported to a Coroner, the Coroner is to make a preliminary investigation into the cause of and circumstances connected with the death, including whether the death was due to natural causes.
(2) In the preliminary investigation, a Coroner need not view the body, but may, if the Coroner thinks it necessary, do so — ( a ) at the place where the body is lying, or any other place to which the body has been moved; or ( b ) by a live video link, or by any other means that the State Coroner may approve which reasonably allows the Coroner to view and identify the body.
(3) If after the preliminary investigation, a Coroner considers that the death was due to natural causes and that it is unnecessary to hold an inquiry, the Coroner may issue an order under section 22 for the release of the body. [Act 31 of 2021 wef 02/05/2023]
Police officer to report to Public Prosecutor in certain cases
Open ↗13. In any investigation under section 10, where a person has been or may be arrested and charged in connection with the death, the police officer investigating into the cause of death must — ( a ) as soon as reasonably practicable, inform the Public Prosecutor of the particulars concerning the cause of death which have come to the police officer’s knowledge; and ( b ) comply with any directions that the Public Prosecutor may give concerning the investigation.
Duty of police officer to investigate cause of death if directed by Public Prosecutor
Open ↗14. A police officer must investigate into the cause of any death if directed to do so by the Public Prosecutor.
Power of police officer to investigate
Open ↗15. In investigating into any death, a police officer may exercise all or any of the powers conferred on him or her by the Criminal Procedure Code 2010 or any other written law in relation to investigations into an arrestable offence.
Coroner or Public Prosecutor may direct forensic pathologist to investigate
Open ↗16. —(1) When a Coroner or the Public Prosecutor receives information about the death of any person, the Coroner or the Public Prosecutor may, if he or she considers it appropriate to do so, direct — ( a ) a forensic pathologist to investigate the cause of and circumstances connected with the death; and ( b ) that a copy of all medical records, healthcare records and such other documents as may be relevant to the case be furnished by the person in charge of the hospital, medical clinic or place of custody mentioned in section 8 or any other person in possession thereof to the forensic pathologist. (2) The forensic pathologist must regularly inform the police officer investigating the death, the Coroner and the Public Prosecutor about the progress of his or her investigations and findings.
—(1) When a Coroner or the Public Prosecutor receives information about the death of any person, the Coroner or the Public Prosecutor may, if he or she considers it appropriate to do so, direct — ( a ) a forensic pathologist to investigate the cause of and circumstances connected with the death; and ( b ) that a copy of all medical records, healthcare records and such other documents as may be relevant to the case be furnished by the person in charge of the hospital, medical clinic or place of custody mentioned in section 8 or any other person in possession thereof to the forensic pathologist.
(2) The forensic pathologist must regularly inform the police officer investigating the death, the Coroner and the Public Prosecutor about the progress of his or her investigations and findings.
Powers of forensic pathologist
Open ↗17. —(1) A forensic pathologist making an investigation under section 16 may — ( a ) view the body at the place where the body is lying or order the body to be removed to some more convenient place and view the body at that place; ( b ) require any medical practitioner or healthcare practitioner to furnish, within such time as the forensic pathologist may specify — (i) a detailed report, to the best of the medical practitioner’s or healthcare practitioner’s knowledge, on the medical treatment or care rendered to the deceased before that person’s death; (ii) such medical records or healthcare records pertaining to the medical treatment or care of the deceased as the forensic pathologist may require; and (iii) any other information, substance or thing pertaining to the medical treatment or care of the deceased in the possession of the medical practitioner or healthcare practitioner which the forensic pathologist considers necessary for the purposes of the investigation; ( ba ) request the Registrar to furnish, within such time as the forensic pathologist may specify, any information pertaining to the medical history, treatment or care of the deceased in the possession of the Registry that the forensic pathologist considers necessary for the purposes of the investigation; and ( c ) request the Coroner to direct the police to provide such assistance as the forensic pathologist may require to investigate the cause of and circumstances connected with the death. (2) Any medical practitioner or healthcare practitioner who is required by a forensic pathologist under subsection (1)( b ) to provide any report, record, information, substance or thing and who — ( a ) without reasonable excuse, fails to provide the report, record, information, substance or thing; ( b ) provides any report, record or information which he or she knows or believes to be false or incomplete; or ( c ) tampers or destroys, or causes or permits the tampering or destruction of, any report, record, substance or thing pertaining to the medical treatment or care of the deceased, 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. (3) The Registrar, or any Registry officer, agent of the Registry or other person who acts under the direction of the Registrar — ( a ) must comply with a request under subsection (1)( ba ) to furnish information to the forensic pathologist, despite any restriction on the disclosure of information imposed by section 8 of the National Registry of Diseases Act 2007; and ( b ) is not by so doing to be treated as being in breach of any such restriction, despite anything to the contrary in that section. (4) In this section, “agent of the Registry”, “Registrar”, “Registry” and “Registry officer” have the meanings given by the National Registry of Diseases Act 2007.
—(1) A forensic pathologist making an investigation under section 16 may — ( a ) view the body at the place where the body is lying or order the body to be removed to some more convenient place and view the body at that place; ( b ) require any medical practitioner or healthcare practitioner to furnish, within such time as the forensic pathologist may specify — (i) a detailed report, to the best of the medical practitioner’s or healthcare practitioner’s knowledge, on the medical treatment or care rendered to the deceased before that person’s death; (ii) such medical records or healthcare records pertaining to the medical treatment or care of the deceased as the forensic pathologist may require; and (iii) any other information, substance or thing pertaining to the medical treatment or care of the deceased in the possession of the medical practitioner or healthcare practitioner which the forensic pathologist considers necessary for the purposes of the investigation; ( ba ) request the Registrar to furnish, within such time as the forensic pathologist may specify, any information pertaining to the medical history, treatment or care of the deceased in the possession of the Registry that the forensic pathologist considers necessary for the purposes of the investigation; and ( c ) request the Coroner to direct the police to provide such assistance as the forensic pathologist may require to investigate the cause of and circumstances connected with the death.
(2) Any medical practitioner or healthcare practitioner who is required by a forensic pathologist under subsection (1)( b ) to provide any report, record, information, substance or thing and who — ( a ) without reasonable excuse, fails to provide the report, record, information, substance or thing; ( b ) provides any report, record or information which he or she knows or believes to be false or incomplete; or ( c ) tampers or destroys, or causes or permits the tampering or destruction of, any report, record, substance or thing pertaining to the medical treatment or care of the deceased, 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.
(3) The Registrar, or any Registry officer, agent of the Registry or other person who acts under the direction of the Registrar — ( a ) must comply with a request under subsection (1)( ba ) to furnish information to the forensic pathologist, despite any restriction on the disclosure of information imposed by section 8 of the National Registry of Diseases Act 2007; and ( b ) is not by so doing to be treated as being in breach of any such restriction, despite anything to the contrary in that section.
(4) In this section, “agent of the Registry”, “Registrar”, “Registry” and “Registry officer” have the meanings given by the National Registry of Diseases Act 2007.
Minister may issue certificate in certain cases
Open ↗17A. —(1) Subject to subsection (5), where a reportable death has occurred and the Minister is satisfied that all of the following conditions are met, the Minister may issue a Minister’s certificate for the release of the body in respect of the deceased: ( a ) the deceased — (i) had sustained an injury, contracted a disease or suffered a condition, outside Singapore, that resulted or apparently resulted in his or her death; or (ii) was, immediately before his or her death — (A) a current or former head of state of a foreign State; (B) a current or former head of government of a foreign State; (C) a government minister of a foreign State; (D) a government official of a foreign State; (E) a spouse or child of a person mentioned in sub‑paragraph (A), (B) or (C) or of a diplomatic agent of a foreign State; ( b ) a foreign State (called in this section the requesting State) makes a request in the prescribed manner for a Minister’s certificate to be issued in respect of the deceased and gives any undertaking regarding the retention or transport of the body or any other matter that the Minister may require; ( c ) in the circumstances, and having regard to any undertaking given by the requesting State, it is not in the public interest for the provisions of this Act to apply or continue to apply in respect of the deceased. (2) In considering whether to issue a Minister’s certificate, the Minister may — ( a ) have regard to information from any investigation that has been or is being carried out by a forensic pathologist under section 16 on the cause of and circumstances connected with the death; ( b ) direct a forensic pathologist to investigate the apparent cause of or circumstances connected with the death, upon which the forensic pathologist has the powers mentioned in section 17(1)( a ), ( b ) and ( ba ) as if the forensic pathologist were making an investigation under section 16; ( c ) direct the police to provide any assistance that the forensic pathologist may require to carry out the investigation mentioned in paragraph ( b ); and ( d ) direct that a copy of all medical records, healthcare records and any other documents that may be relevant to the case be provided by the person in charge of the hospital, medical clinic or place of custody mentioned in section 8 or any other person in possession thereof to the forensic pathologist mentioned in paragraph ( b ). (3) If a Minister’s certificate is issued in respect of a deceased at any time after the death has been reported under section 5 and before the Coroner issues a certificate mentioned in section 42, then as from the date of the Minister’s certificate — ( a ) any investigation by any police officer or forensic pathologist under this Part for the purpose of ascertaining the cause of and circumstances connected with the death must stop; ( b ) if a post-mortem examination under section 18 has not been conducted, the post‑mortem examination must not be conducted; ( c ) despite sections 24 and 25, no inquiry may be held in respect of the death and the Public Prosecutor must not make any order or direction under section 26, but if an inquiry has begun but is not completed, the Coroner is to stop the inquiry and not resume the inquiry except in accordance with subsection (4); ( d ) if the body has not been released, the body must be released immediately to the requesting State without an order of a Coroner under section 22; and ( e ) there is no need for the Coroner to issue a certificate under section 42 in respect of the death. (4) If the Minister revokes a Minister’s certificate, then as from the date of the revocation — ( a ) any investigation (including any post-mortem examination) or inquiry under this Act into the death of the deceased is to resume from the stage at which the investigation or inquiry was stopped; ( b ) the body of the deceased must not be released to the requesting State under subsection (3)( d ), but remains under the Coroner’s control under section 22; ( c ) if the body has been so released, the Coroner resumes control of the body under section 22 unless the body has been buried, cremated or transported out of Singapore; and ( d ) a police officer may cause the body to be removed to any place that the police officer may direct, pending an order of the Coroner to release the body. (5) To avoid doubt, this section does not affect the operation of — ( a ) the Diplomatic and Consular Relations Act 2005 * ; or ( b ) section 11 of the Visiting Forces Act 1960 * . [*Updated to be consistent with the 2020 Revised Edition] (6) In this section — “child” means a person below 21 years of age; “diplomatic agent” means a person who is accredited in any State or territory as the head of a mission or a member of the diplomatic staff of a mission; “foreign State” means a State or territory outside Singapore; “Minister’s certificate” means a certificate issued under subsection (1). [Act 31 of 2021 wef 02/05/2023]
—(1) Subject to subsection (5), where a reportable death has occurred and the Minister is satisfied that all of the following conditions are met, the Minister may issue a Minister’s certificate for the release of the body in respect of the deceased: ( a ) the deceased — (i) had sustained an injury, contracted a disease or suffered a condition, outside Singapore, that resulted or apparently resulted in his or her death; or (ii) was, immediately before his or her death — (A) a current or former head of state of a foreign State; (B) a current or former head of government of a foreign State; (C) a government minister of a foreign State; (D) a government official of a foreign State; (E) a spouse or child of a person mentioned in sub‑paragraph (A), (B) or (C) or of a diplomatic agent of a foreign State; ( b ) a foreign State (called in this section the requesting State) makes a request in the prescribed manner for a Minister’s certificate to be issued in respect of the deceased and gives any undertaking regarding the retention or transport of the body or any other matter that the Minister may require; ( c ) in the circumstances, and having regard to any undertaking given by the requesting State, it is not in the public interest for the provisions of this Act to apply or continue to apply in respect of the deceased.
(2) In considering whether to issue a Minister’s certificate, the Minister may — ( a ) have regard to information from any investigation that has been or is being carried out by a forensic pathologist under section 16 on the cause of and circumstances connected with the death; ( b ) direct a forensic pathologist to investigate the apparent cause of or circumstances connected with the death, upon which the forensic pathologist has the powers mentioned in section 17(1)( a ), ( b ) and ( ba ) as if the forensic pathologist were making an investigation under section 16; ( c ) direct the police to provide any assistance that the forensic pathologist may require to carry out the investigation mentioned in paragraph ( b ); and ( d ) direct that a copy of all medical records, healthcare records and any other documents that may be relevant to the case be provided by the person in charge of the hospital, medical clinic or place of custody mentioned in section 8 or any other person in possession thereof to the forensic pathologist mentioned in paragraph ( b ).
(3) If a Minister’s certificate is issued in respect of a deceased at any time after the death has been reported under section 5 and before the Coroner issues a certificate mentioned in section 42, then as from the date of the Minister’s certificate — ( a ) any investigation by any police officer or forensic pathologist under this Part for the purpose of ascertaining the cause of and circumstances connected with the death must stop; ( b ) if a post-mortem examination under section 18 has not been conducted, the post‑mortem examination must not be conducted; ( c ) despite sections 24 and 25, no inquiry may be held in respect of the death and the Public Prosecutor must not make any order or direction under section 26, but if an inquiry has begun but is not completed, the Coroner is to stop the inquiry and not resume the inquiry except in accordance with subsection (4); ( d ) if the body has not been released, the body must be released immediately to the requesting State without an order of a Coroner under section 22; and ( e ) there is no need for the Coroner to issue a certificate under section 42 in respect of the death.
(4) If the Minister revokes a Minister’s certificate, then as from the date of the revocation — ( a ) any investigation (including any post-mortem examination) or inquiry under this Act into the death of the deceased is to resume from the stage at which the investigation or inquiry was stopped; ( b ) the body of the deceased must not be released to the requesting State under subsection (3)( d ), but remains under the Coroner’s control under section 22; ( c ) if the body has been so released, the Coroner resumes control of the body under section 22 unless the body has been buried, cremated or transported out of Singapore; and ( d ) a police officer may cause the body to be removed to any place that the police officer may direct, pending an order of the Coroner to release the body.
(5) To avoid doubt, this section does not affect the operation of — ( a ) the Diplomatic and Consular Relations Act 2005 * ; or ( b ) section 11 of the Visiting Forces Act 1960 * . [*Updated to be consistent with the 2020 Revised Edition]
(6) In this section — “child” means a person below 21 years of age; “diplomatic agent” means a person who is accredited in any State or territory as the head of a mission or a member of the diplomatic staff of a mission; “foreign State” means a State or territory outside Singapore; “Minister’s certificate” means a certificate issued under subsection (1). [Act 31 of 2021 wef 02/05/2023]
Source: Singapore Statutes Online (Attorney-General's Chambers), © Government of Singapore.
