The first shipment of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by United States pharmaceutical company Pfizer and German firm BioNTech arrived in Singapore on 21 December 2020 after the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) of Singapore granted interim authorisation for its use. Singapore is one of the first countries to obtain this vaccine,…
Category: Public Interest
Are Sovereign Citizens Legally Recognised in Singapore?
Even in Singapore’s collectivist society where citizens are largely law-abiding, sovereign citizens have been making the news recently for disobeying laws. This uptick in cases involving sovereign citizens possibly occurred in response to how COVID-19 regulations, such as mask-wearing and vaccination-differentiated rules, have been seen by them to impinge on…
Vaccine Passports: Are They Recognised in Singapore?
As the COVID-19 vaccination rollout continues to gather pace across the world, we are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. With the increased adoption of vaccination passports worldwide, more domestic activities and international travel have resumed. What Is a Vaccine Passport? A COVID-19 vaccine passport…
Is It Legal to Take Ivermectin in Singapore?
Interest in ivermectin to cure viral infections surged late last year despite it being trialled unsuccessfully to treat COVID-19. Unfortunately, there are still people looking for ways to procure ivermectin and take them for unapproved purposes. This article will therefore aim to explain: What is ivermectin Whether it is legal…
COVID-19: Can Safe Distancing Enforcement Officers Do This?
Safe distancing enforcement officers play an integral role in Singapore’s battle against COVID-19. However, in recent times, some have raised concerns that they may be overstepping their boundaries, such as when safe distancing enforcement officers from the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) legitimately entered the house of Singapore actor Nick Mikhail…
Should I Tell My Criminal Lawyer I’m Guilty? And Other FAQs
From my many years of handling criminal matters, I’ve noticed that some accused persons struggle with the trust they can place in the lawyers that they’ve engaged. There are instances where the accused has not been completely truthful or certain information is being kept from the lawyer. I find this…
How Legal are Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) in Singapore?
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) are digital assets that have been around since 2014 but have boomed in recent years. They are becoming a more popular manner to buy and sell digital artwork. If you are wondering about creating, buying or selling NFTs, or even what the hype over NFTs is all…
Sexual Disorders (Paraphilia): How are Offenders Sentenced?
The spate of voyeurism cases at local universities in recent years has raised considerable public discussion and debate on the rise of offenders suffering from sexual disorders, also known as “paraphilia”. This has even led to a review of the sentencing framework for sexual and hurt offences in Singapore, which…
3 Social Media Posts You can be Charged For in Singapore
Popular platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, are often used by people to express their thoughts and discuss socio-political issues. However, some social media posts may be considered offensive to others, or may spread misinformation. In such circumstances, you may be charged for the content of your social media posts…
COVID-19 Penalties for Not Social Distancing or Staying Home
On 7 April 2020, Singapore entered the “circuit breaker” period which had been announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, to pre-empt the escalating number of COVID-19 infections across the country. This article outlines the various measures that have been implemented, including social distancing, contact tracing and ensuring that individuals…
