PROTECTION AGAINST VIOLENCE

Meaning of Violence – Section.64 WC
⇒ Physical Violence
⇒ Psychological Harm
⇒ Wrongful Restraint
⇒ Harassment

AVENUES AVAILABLE TO VICTIMS

Criminal law remedies under penal code.
Tort remedies at common law.
Civil law remedies (WC).

1. Criminal Law Remedies
⇒ Not popular.
⇒ Not practical.
⇒ Insufficient protection for accused person.
⇒ Slow Process.
⇒ Police reluctant to be involved in domestic disputes

2. Tortious Remedies (INJUNCTION AGAINST):
⇒ Battery
⇒ Assualt
⇒ False imprisonment
⇒ Nuisance
⇒ Trespass

3. Women’s Charter Remedies
⇒ Section.65(2)
⇒ Available to any Family Member only to Married Person.

ENFORCEMENT

Section.65 (8) of Women’s Charter
⇒ Fine of maximum S$2,000 or jail of 6 months or both
⇒ Second or subsequent convictions – fine S$5,000 or jail of 12 months or both

TYPES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Section.65 (8) of Women’s Charter
⇒ Assault
⇒ Threat
⇒ Continuous harassment
⇒ Violence
⇒ Abuse

DIFFERENT TYPES OF ABUSE: (EXTRACTED FROM STRAITS TIMES JUN 25, 2000)

Verbal/emotional abuse
⇒ “I did an act of charity by marrying you”
⇒ “You’re good for nothing – not knowing how to care for the house”
⇒ “You are a woman full of defects”
⇒ “You are fat and ugly”
⇒ Abuse

Economic abuse
⇒ “I did an act of charity by marrying you”
⇒ He gives her an allowance, then take it back

Pyschological abuse
⇒ Banging a kitchen table when talking
⇒ Turning off water and electricity when his wife is bathing
⇒ Making spot checks on wife at workplace

Singapore is a clean city. Our government and our criminal justice system is likewise clean and transparent. Private Investigators in Singapore similarly must be clean and transparent.