Jurisdiction of Coroner to hold inquiry
24. —(1) A Coroner has the jurisdiction to hold an inquiry to determine the cause of death of any person where — ( a ) the body of the person is found in Singapore; ( b ) the death occurred in Singapore; ( c ) the cause of the death occurred in Singapore; or ( d ) the death occurred on board, or as a result of an occurrence on board, a Singapore‑registered aircraft or Singapore‑registered vessel. (2) The Coroner has the jurisdiction under subsection (1)( b ), ( c ) and ( d ) despite the absence of a body.
—(1) A Coroner has the jurisdiction to hold an inquiry to determine the cause of death of any person where — ( a ) the body of the person is found in Singapore; ( b ) the death occurred in Singapore; ( c ) the cause of the death occurred in Singapore; or ( d ) the death occurred on board, or as a result of an occurrence on board, a Singapore‑registered aircraft or Singapore‑registered vessel.
(2) The Coroner has the jurisdiction under subsection (1)( b ), ( c ) and ( d ) despite the absence of a body.
Duty of Coroner to hold inquiry
25. —(1) A Coroner must hold an inquiry into any death which occurred in Singapore where — ( a ) a person dies while in official custody; ( b ) the death was the result of the lawful execution of a death sentence in accordance with section 313(1)( m ) of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010; [Act 41 of 2022 wef 28/06/2024] ( c ) the Public Prosecutor so requires under section 26; or ( d ) the death occurred in any of the circumstances set out in the Third Schedule, unless the Coroner is satisfied that the death was due to natural causes. (2) A Coroner may decide not to hold an inquiry, in any other case in which the Coroner has jurisdiction, if he or she is satisfied that — ( a ) the death was due to natural causes and it is unnecessary to do so; or ( b ) in the circumstances, it is not necessary in the public interest to do so. (3) In deciding whether to hold an inquiry, a Coroner may have regard to the following matters: ( a ) in the case of a death that appears to have been unnatural or violent, whether or not it appears to have been due to the action or inaction of any other person; ( b ) the extent to which the drawing of attention to the circumstances of the death may be likely to reduce the chances of the occurrence of other deaths in similar circumstances; ( c ) the desire of any member of the immediate family of the deceased that an inquiry should be conducted; ( d ) whether or not the death occurred outside Singapore or was caused by matters arising outside Singapore; ( e ) whether or not an inquiry or investigation into the death has been or will be conducted by a coroner or a corresponding authority of a foreign country; ( f ) any other matter the Coroner thinks fit. (4) A Coroner who decides not to hold an inquiry into a death under subsection (2) must report the facts to the Public Prosecutor with the Coroner’s reasons for not holding an inquiry.
—(1) A Coroner must hold an inquiry into any death which occurred in Singapore where — ( a ) a person dies while in official custody; ( b ) the death was the result of the lawful execution of a death sentence in accordance with section 313(1)( m ) of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010; [Act 41 of 2022 wef 28/06/2024] ( c ) the Public Prosecutor so requires under section 26; or ( d ) the death occurred in any of the circumstances set out in the Third Schedule, unless the Coroner is satisfied that the death was due to natural causes.
(2) A Coroner may decide not to hold an inquiry, in any other case in which the Coroner has jurisdiction, if he or she is satisfied that — ( a ) the death was due to natural causes and it is unnecessary to do so; or ( b ) in the circumstances, it is not necessary in the public interest to do so.
(3) In deciding whether to hold an inquiry, a Coroner may have regard to the following matters: ( a ) in the case of a death that appears to have been unnatural or violent, whether or not it appears to have been due to the action or inaction of any other person; ( b ) the extent to which the drawing of attention to the circumstances of the death may be likely to reduce the chances of the occurrence of other deaths in similar circumstances; ( c ) the desire of any member of the immediate family of the deceased that an inquiry should be conducted; ( d ) whether or not the death occurred outside Singapore or was caused by matters arising outside Singapore; ( e ) whether or not an inquiry or investigation into the death has been or will be conducted by a coroner or a corresponding authority of a foreign country; ( f ) any other matter the Coroner thinks fit.
(4) A Coroner who decides not to hold an inquiry into a death under subsection (2) must report the facts to the Public Prosecutor with the Coroner’s reasons for not holding an inquiry.
Power of Public Prosecutor to require inquiry
26. —(1) The Public Prosecutor may, in any case where a Coroner has jurisdiction and the Public Prosecutor is satisfied that an inquiry is necessary or desirable, require the Coroner to hold an inquiry into the death of any person. (2) The Public Prosecutor may direct that a body be exhumed if the Public Prosecutor is of the opinion that it is necessary to do so for the purposes of the inquiry. (3) Even though proceedings at any inquiry may have been concluded by a Coroner, where it appears to the Public Prosecutor that further investigations are necessary, the Public Prosecutor may direct the Coroner to re‑open the inquiry and make further investigations, and the Coroner must comply with those directions and then proceed in the same manner as if the proceedings at the inquiry had not been concluded.
—(1) The Public Prosecutor may, in any case where a Coroner has jurisdiction and the Public Prosecutor is satisfied that an inquiry is necessary or desirable, require the Coroner to hold an inquiry into the death of any person.
(2) The Public Prosecutor may direct that a body be exhumed if the Public Prosecutor is of the opinion that it is necessary to do so for the purposes of the inquiry.
(3) Even though proceedings at any inquiry may have been concluded by a Coroner, where it appears to the Public Prosecutor that further investigations are necessary, the Public Prosecutor may direct the Coroner to re‑open the inquiry and make further investigations, and the Coroner must comply with those directions and then proceed in the same manner as if the proceedings at the inquiry had not been concluded.
Source: Singapore Statutes Online (Attorney-General's Chambers), © Government of Singapore.
