PUBLIC PROSECUTOR v CHJ

Case Significance

Public Prosecutor v CHJ [2024] SGHC 240 was a grounds of decision of Hoo Sheau Peng J in the General Division of the High Court of Singapore, dated 17 September 2024, in Criminal Case No 44 of 2023, following hearings across 3-5, 10-12, 16 and 30-31 October and 1-3 November 2023, and 9 April and 22 July 2024. The accused claimed trial to two charges of sexual assault by penetration committed against his wife, the Complainant, under s 376(2)(a) of the Penal Code (Cap 224, 2008 Rev Ed), and one charge of obstructing the course of justice under s 204A(b) of the Penal Code. The catchwords classify the matter as concerning sexual offences and sentencing.

The first and second charges alleged that, on a first and a second occasion sometime at night on 13 July 2020 at the Flat, the accused sexually penetrated with his finger the vagina of the Complainant, then 35 years old, without her consent, offences under s 376(2)(a) punishable under s 376(3) of the Penal Code. The third charge alleged that, on four occasions between 11 and 17 October 2020 in Singapore, he did acts tending to obstruct the course of justice. The statutes engaged included the Penal Code, the Criminal Procedure Code and the Evidence Act. The prosecution was conducted by the Attorney-General's Chambers, including Jane Lim, Jonathan Tan and Selene Yap, while the accused was represented by Gloria James-Civetta & Co and Vinit Chhabra Law Corporation, including Gloria James-Civetta, Chong Xin Yi and Vinit Chhabra.