

Mentally-disordered offenders
What kinds of mental disorders are legally relevant?
Can they completely absolve you of crime?
Can they mitigate your actions?
Successful Cases
[2024] 3 SLR 972
PP v Soo Cheow Wee
Section 506
Soo Cheow Wee had consumed cough syrup illegally obtained from Geylang and was hallucinating when he was shot outside Clementi Police Division in February 2022. The Prosecution sought a lengthy jail sentence but the Honourable Chief Justice recognised that his mental condition was relevant.
[2019] 5 SLR 769
PP v Low Ji Qing
Section 380
Low Ji Qing laboured undiagnosed with Fetishism for years, committing multiple theft offences and serving multiple imprisonment terms. He was finally diagnosed in 2017.
The Prosecution sought a lengthy jail sentence but the Honourable Chief Justice recognised that his mental condition was relevant.
2019
PP v Gabriel Lien Goh
Section 304
Gabriel Lien Goh killed his mother and grandmother after experiencing hallucinations caused by consumption of lysergide (LSD). He was assessed to be of unsound mind, leading to his acquittal and consequent indefinite detention at the President's pleasure pursuant to Section 252 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
2017
PP v Ho Ah Chye
Section 354
Ho Ah Chye had an IQ of 65 and mild intellectual disability. He committed outrage of modesty offences on public transport. The Prosecution sought a lengthy jail sentence but the learned District Judge Eddy Tham handed down a sentence that reocgnised his intellectual disability and rehabilitative efforts.
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As quoted ...
“A psychiatric report can form part of a wider assessment, such as to ascertain if someone is suitable for rehabilitation. A judge may take into account a mental condition and mete out a lighter sentence within the range of sentences allowed by law."
TODAY Explainer: When does a mental health condition count in court and are more people using it as a defence?
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8 May 2024