A letter of representation is actually a letter into the AGC that sets out main reasons why they need to possibly not cost you, drop rates in opposition to you or seek a certain sentence from your court docket.
In principle, you'll be able to send as a lot of letters of representation as you want, but generally a lawyer would send out among one–3, dependant upon the strategic factors that may implement to your scenario. Such a letter is often sent at any phase of proceedings from your investigation phase for the sentencing phase.
A letter of representation differs from a mitigation plea. A letter of illustration is tackled into the AGC and seeks their arrangement regarding some facet of your case.
Then again, a mitigation plea is a authorized submission addressed to and submitted with a sentencing courtroom with the objective of delivering the court Together with the lawful and factual bases to the sentence that you are in search of, in cases where you have now been identified responsible.
What Goes inside a Letter of Illustration?
Topic reference
A letter of illustration, if written by a lawyer, ordinarily opens using a reference to the individual becoming represented from the letter.
If costs have previously been introduced in opposition to that human being, the letter might be captioned by reference to the situation number.
Final result remaining sought
The letter of representation will then commonly open with a short assertion that explains what final result to the situation the letter will seek out.
The doable outcomes That could be sought include things like the charges currently being dropped, stern or conditional warnings remaining administered or certain sentences staying recommended for the court docket within the function of the guilty plea. These letters are sometimes also marked “devoid of prejudiceâ€.
Reasons for the outcome being sought
The letter need to then established out the details appropriate to the situation that assistance the end result remaining sought. According to the strategic things to consider in your situation, the letter may well check with:
Any evidence that supports the specifics on which you rely to help the end result remaining sought. Copies of this kind of proof might even be connected to your letter, but the decision on regardless of whether to connect any proof to the letter is eventually a strategic just one to generally be taken by an attorney, having into consideration every one of the instances of one's situation; or
The existence of witnesses who'll corroborate Those people facts. These witnesses might even be determined as part of your letter.
Preferably, the letter of representation ought to make reference to very similar earlier instances which had resulted in results just Criminal Defence Lawyer Singapore like Those people you are looking for, and describe how People conditions are analogous (i.e. factually similar) for your situation.
Your probably following techniques
The letter of illustration really should then briefly established out your likely following actions, based upon no matter if AGC accedes in your ask for. These techniques might be to claim trial, plead guilty or make some applicable submission to courtroom by way of example.
Gives (if appropriate)
The letter can, if acceptable, also include things like features, with or without the need of an admission of guilt, to do other items including publish an apology and/or shell out restitution to your sufferer, or to decide to voluntary Local community programmes for instance counselling or charitable do the job.
Reservation within your legal rights
The letter, if drafted by an attorney, should conclude with the acknowledgement that the lawyer has recommended you around the lawful implications of staying untruthful within the letter and a full reservation within your rights.
You may additionally wish to incorporate a reasonable deadline in which you expect to receive a reaction, Though there is no ensure the AGC will have any regard to this.
The way to Send the Letter of Illustration and to Whom
These letters are usually despatched in PDF format by means of a generic on-line kind managed through the AGC for this purpose.
Should your circumstance is at an advanced stage of proceedings having said that, your lawyer may ship it to a selected prosecutor(s) (or deliver it to only this kind of particular prosecutor(s)).
What are the Probable Results On Sending a Letter of Illustration?
In the event the AGC decides to accede in your request, they may generate again to tell you of this and checklist any circumstances for their settlement.
From time to time, They might ship a counter-supply whereby they offer to recommend a selected sentence to your courtroom, or drop one or more rates, when you comply with plead guilty to some or all of the charges, and/or conform to A few other ask for including having to pay restitution to the sufferer.
If your AGC is not able to accede for your request, it's possible you'll get a really brief template reaction with the AGC stating that, obtaining very carefully considered your representations, They are really struggling to accede in your request.
In some cases, no reaction is distributed, and also the prosecutor will simply just point out verbally for the court that AGC been given representations Which they will not accede into the ask for(s) therein.
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It should be clear from the above mentioned the drafting of a letter of illustration is just not a simple make any difference of sending a brief letter asking for leniency or saying you will be sorry.
There are lots of requests to think about and many alternative permutations of all People requests, a few of which might or might not be readily available or proper to you dependant upon the information of your scenario as well as your own profile.
Just a legal law firm is able to meaningfully advise you regarding how to greatest progress your passions inside a prison investigation or prosecution.
Consequently, if you are staying investigated for a criminal offense in Singapore, you'll want to constantly look for lawful suggestions from a felony lawyer for the earliest achievable option.