Sant Singh, SC
I was deeply saddened to learn this past weekend, through fellow lawyers, of the passing of Sant Singh SC, a doyen of the Criminal Defence Bar. He passed away peacefully in Perth, Australia.
Sant began his career in private practice in 1978. Before that, he served as a Senior Police Officer in the Singapore Police Force from 1966. In 1973, he transitioned to the Singapore Legal Service, where he worked as a Deputy Public Prosecutor. In private practice, Sant established himself as one of the finest criminal defence lawyers. His excellence was recognised when he was appointed Senior Counsel in 2007.
Sant played a significant leadership role in the legal community, serving as Chairman of Law Society’s Criminal Legal Aid Scheme (CLAS) Committee from 2004 to 2005 and its Criminal Practice Committee from 2008 to 2009. These appointments coincided with my early terms as a Council member in the Junior and Middle categories. CLAS, Criminal Practice and Advocacy were amongst the first areas I served in at the Law Society.
Sant was also deeply committed to advocacy training. For many years, Sant served as a lead instructor for the Practical Law Course (later the Part B) Advocacy Training Course. As a junior instructor on the course, I gained immensely from observing and learning from him as he generously shared his expertise with young lawyers entering the profession.
Sant’s mentorship extended beyond structured courses. He was always ready to guide juniors in need of his wisdom and experience.
My first trial sometime around 2000, a CLAS case involving a juvenile, was also my first personal encounter with Sant. During a break in the trial, I found myself at a loss over how to impeach a witness. In desperation, I approached Sant in the Bar Room of the then Subordinate Courts. Seated at the hallowed round table there, with his characteristic generosity, Sant patiently explained the process step-by-step, enabling me to carry it out quite decently in court later. I recounted this memorable episode during my farewell to the old State Courts on 12 December 2019 and recently shared it again on Facebook (see: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/19iXQaStu7/?mibextid=NpOjYg).
Sant embodied the qualities of a true gentleman and a highly effective advocate, demonstrating that firmness need not come at the expense of kindness. His calm demeanor, soft-spoken nature, and generosity will remain deeply etched in my memory. I found a treasured photo of us from a Law Society gathering on 12 July 2013.
Rest in peace, Sant. You will be dearly missed.
Michael S. Chia
Managing Director
MSC Law Corporation
