The case of the 14-year-old boy who committed suicide after police interrogation has prompted the Law Society of Singapore to set-up a special committee chaired by Mr Wendell Wong to look at investigation protocols for young suspects.
Mr Wendell Wong is Director of Dispute Resolution of the law firm Drew & Napier and co-chairman of Law Society’s criminal law practice committee.
The special committee will engage the Ministry of Home Affairs and Attorney-General’s Chambers.
“The recent tragic case of 14-year-old Benjamin has highlighted the issue of investigation protocols, especially in the case of young offenders or suspects,” Mr Wendell Wong said.
Others in the 10-men committee include lawyers Amolat Singh, Suresh Damodara, Satwant Singh, Peter Ong and associate law professor Chan Wing Cheong.
The Appropriate Adult scheme should be extended to minors under 16 years of age said Mr Peter Ong.
The Committee which has not met yet, has to wait for the Coroner’s Inquiry to establish the facts of the case. But “there is a lot of public interest and a lot of disquiet in this case,” said Mr Amolat Singh.