Singapore - Republic of Singapore. State structure

The foundation stone for the construction of the courthouse was solemnly laid by the then Governor of Singapore, Sir Shenton Thomas. Several local newspapers, published the day before - March 31, 1937, as well as coins were placed in the time capsule. The time capsule is supposed to be opened in the year 3000. The governor announced the completion of construction in 1939.

The internal space of the building is open, and its spacious interior uses Corinthian columns and paintings by Italian masters. Floors support reliable metal constructions, a dome rises above the central part of the building, where the law library used to be. The front pediment is decorated with sculptural images by the Italian master Augusto Martelli, which are an allegory of justice.

Initially, the building housed four courts, and later seven more appeared. However, for almost ten years now, court hearings have not been held here - after restoration, they plan to open an art center in the building.

In 2002, a new building began to be built behind the old courthouse, which was completed in 2005. The building with an area of ​​72 thousand square meters. m was designed by local architects jointly by Foster and Partners (Great Britain).

The exterior of the new Supreme Court of Singapore building has been carefully thought out to embody the idea of ​​transparency. judicial system. For this purpose, translucent Portuguese marble was used in the cladding, and the internal entrance, stairs and elevator shafts in their design consist mainly of glass. Now the building houses 12 civil, 8 criminal and 3 courts of appeal. Floors 2-6 of the building are mainly occupied by courtrooms, while the Court of Appeal is located on the eighth floor, which is externally made in the form of a disk. This architectural detail is not accidental - the disk towering above the building is a modern interpretation of the dome that adorns the old building of the Old Supreme Court, and also symbolizes the impartiality of justice.

Singapore Supreme Court Building location on the map

The construction of the Supreme Court building, which is now known as the Old Supreme Court Building, began in 1937 on the site of the Grand Hotel de L "Europe (1 St Andrew" s Rd), not far from the main government offices. The Old Supreme Court faces the Padang outdoor sports ground.

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    Singapore was recently named the most expensive city in the world. In light of this event, we have decided to re-publish our popular expat guide for those who are still thinking about moving to this city-state.

    Imagine a large metropolitan city where cars rush along environmentally friendly highways, the streets are polished to a shine, and repair is considered as important as maintaining sanitary standards.

    A city where four major nationalities (Chinese, Malays, Indians and Eurasians) live peacefully in tropical landscapes with a large community of foreigners who live and raise children here without fear of crime or the slightest manifestation of disrespect.

    A city whose parks, museums, cultural institutions and architectural monuments can be envied by the capital of any country.

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    It is no coincidence that Singapore occupies high places in the lists of the best cities - both for work and for life in general. The reasons for this are numerous.

    "Singapore is all about convenience," says International Market Assessment analyst Richard Martin, who describes himself as an "older expat."

    But every utopia has its drawbacks. Living wage in Singapore continues to grow at an incredible rate - especially when compared with neighboring Indonesia and Malaysia.

    In 2015, this city was recognized as the most expensive in the world (according to the analytical division of the British Economist magazine).

    Image copyright AFP

    Recently in Singapore began to grow hostility towards foreigners. According to official statistics for 2014, out of the 5.6 million people who make up the population of this city-state, 1.32 million are labor migrants.

    The expatarrivals.com website and other resources estimate that the number of expats in the country is about 600,000, if we take into account only specialists and executives who are more highly qualified, receive higher salaries and often come to the country on a work visa.

    Under the new legislation, for all positions with a salary of not more than 12 thousand Singapore dollars (about 600 thousand rubles) per month, the employer is required to select employees exclusively from local within two weeks before offering this work foreigners.

    Searching for a job

    However, Singapore continues to be a magnet for foreign professionals, especially in marketing, finance and information technologies.

    Qualified personnel are in demand in the field of communications, cargo transportation, mechanical engineering and advertising.

    Representative offices of such large corporations as Microsoft, American Express, Bain & Co, Gunvor Group, Capital Land, DBS Bank, BBDO, McCann-Erickson and Edelman operate in the city.

    Image copyright getty Image caption Singapore parks, museums, cultural institutions and architectural monuments can be the envy of any city in the world

    Singapore also has offices for most of the popular and influential media - BBC, ESPN, Discovery, Asian Food Channel - that cover the situation in Southeast Asia.

    Not everyone knows that, in addition, there are a number of refineries and oil companies in Singapore, including, for example, Shell Eastern Trading.

    In addition, the city has invested heavily in the development of the National Research Institute and entire areas such as Biopolis and Fusionpolis, where Scientific research and industrial developments, especially in the fields of biomedicine, microelectronics and chemical engineering.

    True, the level of salaries in the country as a whole is quite high. According to a study conducted by HSBC in 2014, 45% of expats (that is, almost half) receive more than 250 thousand Singapore dollars (12.5 million rubles) per year.

    In the same study, 62% of labor migrants said that their income in Singapore was higher than in their home country.

    “Housing, alcohol, cars, any imported goods are rising in price,” says Roberto Versace, an Italian-born financial manager. “Every time I come to New York or London, everything seems very cheap. And, as far as I know, many Europeans end up choosing to go back."

    Financial questions

    The greatest increase in prices is noted just for those goods and services that are in demand among expats: housing, education in international schools, medical service and a variety of small pleasures - for example, good wine.

    High import duties on imported cars are common throughout Asia, but Singapore is a special case. Local motorists have to shell out huge amounts not only for the cars themselves, but also for tolls, maintenance, gas and parking - all designed to limit the intensity traffic.

    Image copyright getty Image caption Singapore as a magnet attracts foreign specialists, especially in the field of marketing, finance and information technology Image copyright getty Image caption Despite being named the most expensive city in 2015, Singapore still remains attractive to expats.

    So, a BMW 320i sedan costs SGD 223,800 (more than 11 million rubles), and a permit to own a car for a period of 10 years can cost SGD 60,000 (3 million rubles).

    Luxurious three-room apartments in the city center can be rented for 10 thousand Singapore dollars (500 thousand rubles) per month, although there are many more modest options.

    To meet the budget, it is best to try to negotiate with your employer on the provision of a good social package.

    Keep in mind that many Singaporean companies simply prefer to raise wages instead of paying for children's education or other expenses.

    But Roberto Versace, who has lived in Singapore for almost five years, warns that "housing benefits are becoming rarer. Only the highest paid professionals can count on such care for themselves."

    Domestic issues

    Many people speak English. if you have Work Visa then purchase all household amenities such as a local bank account, credit card, telephone and Internet, it will not be difficult.

    The city is considered safe in all respects. You can safely drink water from the tap, let the children play in the yard, and those who are older can even wander around the city.

    Image copyright getty Image caption The streets of Singapore are just sparkling clean.

    “Moving, renting a house, getting a work permit in Singapore is easier than in any of the eight or nine Asian cities where I have lived,” says Richard Martin. “In addition, there is a whole crowd of expats from all over the world, so friends It's easy to get started. There are great clubs and hobby groups. Many people ride bicycles."

    Housing and taxes

    Part of Singapore's appeal comes from the fact that it is still somewhat of a tax haven.

    Local taxes can not be called extortionate: if you spend less than 183 days a year in Singapore, you don’t have to pay anything, and if you spend more, then the maximum tax rate is 20%.

    "That's the compromise," explains Versace. "Prices are high, but taxes are lower than in the West."

    Obtaining a visa

    Singapore traditionally welcomes the involvement of foreign specialists to develop the country's economy.

    Here, not just "work visas" are issued, but a whole flexible system of entry permits for labor migrants, depending on the category. Separate category provided even for artists.

    Most of the professionals employed in the country, such as bank employees or managers, have such work visas.

    To receive, you must have a salary of at least 3,300 Singapore dollars (165 thousand rubles) per month.

    Pros and cons of living in Singapore

    While there are many benefits to living in Singapore - safety, convenience, delicious food, great schools and quality health care - there are downsides too.

    Singapore is located almost directly on the equator, so lovers of the change of seasons, fresh breeze or skiing are unlikely to like it here.

    Thoughtful architectural solutions and air conditioners only partly mitigate this circumstance.

    Image copyright getty Image caption Street light in the form of a writhing snake over a Singapore street Image copyright getty Image caption Of course, it is no coincidence that Singapore occupies high places in the lists of the best cities - both for work and for life in general. But there are also disadvantages

    average temperature keeps at a level just above 30 degrees Celsius (usually hotter during the day) both in summer and in winter, the humidity is also constant - 80%.

    The rainiest months are November, December and January, although frequent short showers occur throughout the year.

    Living in a consumer society can also be exhausting. Numerous shopping centers are certainly great, but on the days of sales or the appearance of new Vuitton handbags or iPhones, huge queues line up at the checkout counters.

    “On the outskirts you can see the real Singapore,” says Versace, “but the city center has already fallen victim to globalization: everything is replete with the same brands that can be found everywhere. And while prices are constantly rising, the service does not always match them.”

    • Read in English on the website

    We offer for acquaintance the material about the judicial system of Singapore

    Judicial system of Singapore

    The Republic of Singapore is a city-state located on islands in Southeast Asia. Singapore became an independent state on 9 August 1965 and joined the United Nations the same year. In addition, the Republic of Singapore is a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific Ocean(ESCAP), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), a member of the General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs (WTO), one of the initiators of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and a member of several other international organizations.

    In 1990, Singapore began judicial reform. An urgent need pushed the judicial system to reform: the lower courts of Singapore were simply overwhelmed with cases that accumulated and were not considered for 10 years due to the inability of the system to “digest” all this shaft. It happened that the parties waited for the appointment of the case for hearing for four whole years! And the consideration of appeals was given two to three years.

    The reform of the justice system in Singapore began with the introduction of the Judicial Charter, which was supposed to contribute to an increase in the courts' friendliness towards users, and this is not only a correct attitude towards the parties, but, first of all, a reduction in the duration of proceedings. Certain steps have been taken for this. And very successfully.

    In addition, measures were taken to improve judicial management. The courts began to apply best practics management, and court leaders began to be taught leadership skills. By the way, leadership training was not cheap, a lot of money was spent, since court employees were sent to study at the best universities, including abroad. Court administration, as well as business management, began to be based on the ability to predict; application of methodologies strategic planning; skillful use of information; developing a policy in the field of personnel management; performance court proceedings through the use of information and communication technologies; mediation; regular research to ascertain the level of satisfaction of users of judicial services.

    Within a few years, the Singaporean courts were able to eliminate all these terrible "blockages", they began to appoint cases for hearing promptly, within a month.

    In the late 1990s, Singapore's lower courts introduced the Judicial Scorecard, a tool for measuring court performance. In September 2000, this scorecard was replaced by an electronic version, the eJustice Scorecard System. Information about the activities of the courts is collected and grouped into four categories in accordance with the principles of a balanced scorecard: 1) public relations; 2) internal processes; 3) training; 4) financing.

    It is interesting that the lower level courts of Singapore accepted all these innovations willingly, they were interested in improving the quality of their work. Therefore, new rules of work were actively introduced. For this, the lower courts received the Singapore Quality Award in 2006, an award given in recognition of high quality standards.

    The judiciary is represented in Singapore by a developed system of courts. Article 93 of the Constitution vests the exercise of judicial power in the Supreme Court and subordinate courts, as may be established by law.

    Beyond the Constitution of Singapore legal status Supreme Court The Republic of Singapore is defined by the Supreme Court of Judicature Act, 1970, the state courts(State Courts Act, 1971); internal procedures are regulated by the Rules of Court (Rules of Court, 1996). The Supreme Court consists of the Court of Appeal and high court(High Court). The law provides that the High Court shall consist of the Chief Justice and the Justices of the Supreme Court. The Chief Justice and seven Justices of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President in consultation with the Prime Minister. Associate Justices of the Supreme Court are appointed after consultation with the Chief Justice. At the level of the basic law, there is a provision according to which cases in the Supreme Court can be heard on Saturday and Sunday, as well as on holidays in emergency cases and at the request of the Chief Judge. The Supreme Court has jurisdiction over 10 district courts, 14 city courts, 1 juvenile delinquency court, and 1 fatality court.

    As a trial court, the High Court hears any criminal cases involving crimes statutory in accordance with section 15 of the Supreme Court Law. Jurisdiction for the consideration of civil law cases is divided into: general (Article 16 of the Law), special (family divorces, in cases provided for by law; in matters of the admiralty; bankruptcy of companies; appointment of guardians for children, persons who do not have full legal capacity, as well as for some other cases), competing with the Sharia courts (the Supreme Court is authorized to hear cases of alimony obligations, custody of children, division of property in divorce, however, the Supreme Court is not entitled to consider all civil cases in which the jurisdiction of the Sharia Court is established in accordance with the Law on Islamic Law (Administration of Muslim Law Act, 2009).

    The High Court, as an appellate instance, under section 19 of the Supreme Court Act, hears appeals on decisions of district and magistrate courts in accordance with the criminal procedure legislation, appeals on the facts of violation of the law by the courts, appeals against decisions on cases of criminal offenses considered by the Court on family affairs, as well as appeals against decisions of the Juvenile Court. In the area of ​​civil law jurisdiction, the High Court hears appeals against decisions of the Family Court, district and magistrate courts on quasi-criminal (quasicriminal) and civil affairs, as well as in cases provided by law, on the decisions of specialized tribunals. The High Court hears appeals against decisions of the district and magistrate courts in the event that the amount of the claim exceeds 50,000 SGD or there is an appropriate permission from the court of the appropriate level (district or magistrate). The High Court is assigned the function of general supervision of the courts of the judiciary of Singapore in accordance with sections 23-28 of the Supreme Court Act.

    The Court of Appeal hears appeals against any decision in civil cases rendered by the High Court, as well as against decisions rendered by the same court at first instance in criminal matters.

    constitutional control in Singapore is exercised by the High Court, as evidenced by section 56A of the Subordinate Courts Act, according to which, if in the course of judicial trial there is a question about the interpretation of the norms of the law, including the Constitution, the court considering the case has the right to suspend the case and send a corresponding request to the High Court.

    Subordinate courts governed by the Subordinate Courts Act (1970) include District Courts, Magistrates' Courts, Juvenile Courts, Coroners' Courts, Small Claims Tribunals.

    District courts and magistrates' courts hear civil law cases, the jurisdiction of which is determined by the amount of the dispute. Thus, magistrates' courts consider disputes not exceeding 60,000 SGD, district courts - up to 250,000 SGD. In criminal cases, under Article 8 of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Singapore (Criminal Procedure Code, 2011), the district courts are competent to hear cases of crimes with a maximum sentence of 10 years, as well as all criminal cases that are within the jurisdiction of magistrates. courts. The magistrates' courts hear criminal cases, the maximum term of imprisonment for which is not more than 5 years. In Singapore, one of the punishments is caning, while the magistrates' court can impose up to 6 caning, the application procedure is regulated by section 2 "Sentence of caning" of the Criminal Procedure Code of Singapore.

    Section 55 of the Lower Courts Act states that the powers and jurisdiction of the Juvenile Tribunal are determined by the Children and Young Persons Act, 1993. Under this law, a child is a person under the age of 14, and a young person is a person who has reached the age of 14 but not older than 16. The President of the Juvenile Tribunal is appointed by the President. Subject to section 33 of the Children's Law, no person under the same law may be charged or convicted of any crime other than the Juvenile Tribunal, except in cases within the jurisdiction of the High Court, for crimes committed in association with persons under the this law, and persons who are over 16 years of age.

    The Coroner's Court/Coroner's Court investigates any case of sudden or unnatural death of a person, there is reason to suspect a violent death, and also if the circumstances in which the death occurred are unknown. The Subordinate Courts Act contains a blanket rule regulating the powers of the coroner's court under the Code of Criminal Procedure.

    The Small Claims Tribunals are governed by the Small Claims Tribunals Act, 1985. The named tribunal considers any disputes arising on the basis of a contract for the sale of goods or the provision of services (so-called consumer disputes), disputes from causing damage to property, except if damage to property is caused by the use vehicle. Term limitation period to apply to the Small Claims Tribunal is one year.

    Family Courts, whose legal status is determined by the Family Justice Act (2014), hear cases related to adoptions, divorces, division of marital property through joint conferences, mediation procedures.

    In 1992, the Night Courts system was developed and implemented, which hear cases of offenses in the field of traffic on Monday and Thursday from 6 pm. This innovation was associated with a large number of traffic violations that were considered within the main system of courts. Thus, the Night Courts were established in order to facilitate access to justice for the working part of the population. In the evening, there are two courts in Singapore: Court No. 26, dealing with subpoenas and notices submitted by various administrative departments, and Court No. 25, dealing with cases of traffic violations submitted by the traffic police.

    The Community Court of Singapore hears cases involving juvenile offenders (16 to 18 years of age) as well as offenders with mental disorders, resolves disputes between neighbors, cases of domestic violence and others.

    In Singapore, other specialized quasi-judicial bodies operate, the creation of which is associated primarily with the goal of unloading the main branch of the judicial system: the Shariah Court (Syariah Court), which gives permission for marriage, as well as for divorce between parties who are Muslims or those who are married in accordance with the provisions of Muslim Law (Muslim Law); Road Accident Tribunal, which handles cases of traffic accidents referred to the tribunal by the traffic police; Copyright Tribunal, which helps to resolve disputes between copyright owners and users of copyright materials; Tribunal for labor disputes, which resolves disputes between employers and employees in cases where they cannot be resolved through mediation.

    The constitution has been amended to eliminate judicial review for the validity of detentions under the Law on internal security and laws on subversive activities, which allows the government to restrict (on rather vague grounds) national security) the operation of certain fundamental rights provided for in the Constitution. Internal security laws, drug abuse laws, and several others allow police and security forces to make arrests without a warrant. The Internal Security Act provides for preventive detention without trial for the purposes of “protecting the public safety or maintaining public order". It gives the Secretary of the Interior the power to place people in detention without charge if the President decides that the person being detained poses a threat to national security.

    education in singapore

    Upon completion, students take exams to obtain an A-level certificate for admission to the university, or O- and N-level certificates for obtaining secondary specialized and technical education. An N-level certificate indicates a satisfactory level of knowledge of students, an O-level certificate indicates an ordinary level of knowledge, and an A-level certificate indicates an advanced level.


    University After receiving the O-level certificate, the student enters the pre-university training, lasting 2-3 years. Such programs allow you to pass the A-level exam and enter the university.

    Secondary school graduates with an O-level certificate may not attend pre-university preparation, but go directly to the Technical Institute. The duration of study there is 2 years, and upon completion, the graduate receives a diploma, which is valid only in Singapore.

    Singapore court as a business project

    Singapore also has a Sharia court that deals with marriage and divorce among members of the Muslim community. The Supreme Court (established in 1969) consists of: a) the High Court, which has unrestricted original jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases and hears at first instance crimes punishable by the death penalty; b) the Court of Appeal, which hears appeals against decisions of the High Court in civil matters; c) Criminal Court of Appeal, which hears appeals against judgments from the High Court in Criminal Matters.

    In 1989, a decision was made and entered into force in 1994 to abolish the right of appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London as final appellate instance(with the exception of cases death penalty and civil cases in which the parties have agreed in writing to such an appeal).

    singapore court system

    Singaporean legislation in this area generally complies with modern international standards and is characterized by increased strictness towards violators. intellectual rights. Economic legislation since 1965 has been aimed at attracting foreign investment and encouraging private initiative.
    In the 1990s an extensive legal framework for the development of the offshore sector. civil procedure governed by the Supreme Court Rules 1970.
    and

    Important

    The Subordinate Courts Rules 1970 International Commercial Arbitration is governed by the international arbitration 1994 Both civil and arbitration proceedings based on English samples.


    Labor law Singapore enshrines the right to join trade unions, to collective bargaining and strike.

    Leading corporate portal of the offshore industry in Russian

    In particular, there is Singapore's own Companies Law, based on the provisions of the Malaysian Companies Law 1965 (with a number of subsequent amendments). There are also national laws on trust companies, on insurance, and on banking.
    At the same time, the English Partnerships Act of 1890 applies. The Bankruptcies of Singapore Act reproduces the English Act of the same name of 1914.


    with minor modifications, Bills of Exchange Act - English Act 1882, etc. Intellectual property relations are regulated by the Law on copyright 1987, Law on trademarks(follows English Trade Marks Act 1887), trademarks(follows English Trade Marks Act 1938), Patents Act 1994

    Education in Singapore: features and prospects for foreigners

    Constitutional control in Singapore, as in many other countries of the system common law carried out by all courts. The Chief Justice and members of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister.

    The latter, however, must consult (on nominees for members of the Supreme Court) with the Chief Justice. The President also appoints lower judges on the recommendation of the Chief Justice.

    The term of appointment is determined by the Commission on legal service over which the Chief Justice presides. Judges of the Supreme Court serve until the age of 65.

    Attention

    A judge can only be removed from office for misbehavior or inability to perform his duties, as certified by an independent tribunal. Criminal prosecution is carried out by the Attorney General's Service.


    The Attorney General is appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister.

    Education system in singapore, education for russians

    Info

    Otherwise, the education system in Singapore is very similar to the British one: bachelor's degree - 3 years, master's degree - 1 year. But the cost is much lower: 1 year of study will cost an average of $ 3,000, depending on the chosen specialty, while in the UK prices start at £ 9,000.


    Admission to a university In order to enter a Singaporean university, a foreign student, just like in England, needs to complete the University Foundation preparation program. For 9 months, graduates are preparing to enter the university: they improve the level of the language, study academic subjects, learn how to write essays correctly and term papers, preparing for the international IELTS exam and learning critical thinking skills.
    EF students after graduation receive an IELTS certificate and a University Foundation graduation certificate, with which the company's partner universities accept students without exams.
    The courts began to apply best management practices, and leaders of the courts began to be taught leadership skills. By the way, leadership training was not cheap, a lot of money was spent, since court employees were sent to study at the best universities, including abroad. Court administration, as well as business management, began to be based on the ability to predict; application of strategic planning techniques; skillful use of information; developing a policy in the field of personnel management; ensuring the productivity of judicial proceedings through the use of information and communication technologies; mediation; regular research to determine the level of satisfaction of users of judicial services.

    education system in singapore

    AT primary school they don't pay to renovate the classroom, they don't collect money for the cafeteria, but they pay out only $13 dollars a month for small expenses. Education in this country is free and students keep pace with the global economy. And all these excellent opportunities are located in Singapore. Mela Newsletter We send out our interesting and very useful newsletter twice a week: on Tuesday and Friday Singapore's education system consists of elementary school, middle school and high school.

    There are no seasonal holidays, studies go on in two semesters and are divided into several levels. Primary School (6 - 12 years old) Primary education in Singapore is free.

    Parents pay only $13 a month for school needs. Concerning educational process there are three levels of knowledge.

    First, the fundamental stage: for 4 years, children learn English, their native language (Chinese, Malay or Tamil).
    Necessarily mathematics for the development of logical thinking, plus everything in the school curriculum includes ethics, artistic work, music and physical education. The next two years are special training. To which disciplines the child has more cravings - on those, transfer exams to high school are formed.

    After passing the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE), the student's further path is laid. Secondary school (12 - 17 years) Based on the results of the exams, children enter secondary schools, education in which takes place according to special courses.

    The future of the student depends on the exams in elementary school. There are the following courses:

    • Special. Includes an in-depth study of the native language, otherwise the training is similar to the express course.
    • Standard.

    Judicial education in singapore

    Admission requirements For admission to a Singapore university, an international student must:

    • University Foundation Graduation Certificate
    • IELTS (6.0), for a master's degree - not lower than 6.5
    • High School Certificate

    Singapore has an English-language education system, so knowledge of Chinese is not required. Upon completion, graduates receive an international diploma, which is valid in other countries.

    You can familiarize yourself with the deadlines for applying to Singapore universities in the article “Terms for submitting documents to foreign universities”. Now you have all the information that will help you decide whether to enter a university in Singapore or still choose a more expensive analogue in England.

    Singapore on the exchange of students, and this gives graduates of the country the opportunity to enter all prestigious universities in the world without exams. By the way, if an applicant is not fluent in English, then he can take language courses directly at his university, but since English is one of the four official languages ​​of the country, you can attend absolutely any language course. Admission to education programs in Singapore As in most English-speaking countries, Singapore has the following degrees for specialists with higher education: Undergraduate in Singapore In order to become a bachelor in the future, an applicant must pass an examination English language and testing for SAT 1 (reading and spelling at least 600, mathematics at least 650) and SAT 2, to which each university has its own requirements.

    The judiciary of Singapore reflects the British legal practice and tradition, excluding the institution of trial by jury. At the same time, although the Constitution provides for an independent judiciary However, in practice this independence is limited by the government through control over the appointment of judges and laws restricting judicial oversight.

    The judicial system has two levels: the Supreme Court and lower ("subordinate") courts. The latter include the magistrates' courts, which hear civil cases and criminal cases, with a maximum penalty of 3 years' imprisonment or a fine of 10,000 sing. Doll.; district courts, which deal with cases with a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison or a fine of 50,000 sing. Doll.; juvenile courts (under 16); small claims courts, dealing with civil and commercial cases less than 2,000 sing. Doll.

    Singapore also has a court sharia, considering the issues of marriage and divorce of representatives of the Muslim community.

    The Supreme Court (established in 1969) consists of: a) the High Court, which has unrestricted original jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases and hears at first instance crimes punishable by the death penalty; b) the Court of Appeal, which hears appeals against decisions of the High Court in civil matters; c) The Court of Criminal Appeal, which hears appeals against judgments from the High Court of Criminal Matters.

    In 1989, a decision was taken and entered into force in 1994 to abolish the right to appeal to the Legal Committee of the Privy Council in London as the final appeal instance (with the exception of death penalty cases and civil cases in which the parties agreed in writing to such an appeal ).

    Constitutional control in Singapore, as in many other countries of the system common law carried out by all courts.

    The Chief Justice and members of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister. The latter, however, must consult (on nominees for members of the Supreme Court) with the Chief Justice. The President also appoints lower judges on the recommendation of the Chief Justice. The term of appointment is determined by the Legal Services Commission, which is chaired by the Chief Justice. Judges of the Supreme Court serve until the age of 65.

    A judge can only be removed from office for misbehavior or inability to perform his duties, as certified by an independent tribunal.

    Criminal prosecution is carried out by the Attorney General's Service. The Attorney General is appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister. He advises the government on legal matters, is responsible for drafting legislation and, as Director of Public Prosecutions, has discretionary authority to initiate, conduct and terminate any criminal prosecution. The same guarantees are established by law for the Attorney General as for a judge of the Supreme Court.

    In 1981, an analogue of the institute was created ombudsman- Central Bureau of Complaints.

    Literature

    Singapore: Handbook. M., 1988.

    Myint Soe. General Principles of Singapore Law. Singapore, 1979.

    Roberts-Wray K. Commonwealth and Colonial Law. L., 1966. P. 718-721.