Section 2 — Interpretation

(1)In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires —“aided accused person” means an individual who is issued a Grant of Aid; “assigned solicitor” means a solicitor from an appropriate panel of solicitors established under section 4 who is assigned any matter mentioned in section 4(1)(a) or (b) by the Chief Public Defender; “Chief Public Defender” means the Chief Public Defender appointed under section 3(1); “court” means any court of competent jurisdiction in Singapore before which any proceedings are heard; “criminal appeal” means any appeal under Part 20 of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010; “criminal application” means —

(a)any application for review of an earlier decision, a case to be stated, a criminal reference or a criminal revision of a case under Division 1B, 2, 3 or 4 of Part 20 of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010, and includes any case stated or revision of a case on a court’s own motion or any criminal reference by the Public Prosecutor mentioned in that Part; or

(b)any criminal motion under Division 5 of Part 20 of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010; “criminal defence aid” means criminal defence aid granted under this Act; “excluded offence” has the meaning given by section 8(2); “Grant of Aid” means a document issued under section 12 or 20 stating that criminal defence aid is granted to an individual (whether on a provisional basis or otherwise); “minor” means an individual who is below 21 years of age; “permanent resident” means a permanent resident of Singapore as defined by section 2 of the Immigration Act 1959;[Act 31 of 2023 wef 01/12/2025] “proceedings” means any proceedings mentioned in section 8(1) or 12(8) in respect of which a Grant of Aid may be or is issued; “public defender” means a public officer or any other individual appointed under section 3(6); “solicitor” means an advocate and solicitor of the Supreme Court.

(2)For the purposes of this Act, a guardian of a minor is —

(a)a parent (whether biological or adoptive) of the minor;

(b)an individual who, not being a parent of the minor, is lawfully appointed by deed or will or by an order of a competent court to be the guardian of the minor; or

(c)any other individual whom the Chief Public Defender has reasonable grounds to believe —

(i)has for the time being the charge, custody, or care and control, of the minor; or

(ii)is for the time being making financial provision for the support of the minor.