Migrant worker accused of faking workplace injury acquitted after charges dropped

Mr Kirpal Singh (left) and defence lawyer Josephus Tan at the State Courts on Nov 23, 2021. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG

SINGAPORE - A migrant worker who was accused of faking a workplace injury to cheat his company was acquitted at the State Courts on Tuesday (Nov 23).

Mr Kirpal Singh, 24, was charged on April 8, 2019, with making fraudulent claims for compensation and lying to an investigating officer, after he cut his thumb while operating a grinder at work on Feb 20 that year.

On Tuesday, Ministry of Manpower prosecutors withdrew the charges, and the former construction worker was then handed a stern warning and a discharge amounting to an acquittal.

This means the Indian national cannot be charged again over the same offence.

No reason was given in court as to why the charges were dropped, but The Straits Times understands that it was due to a lack of evidence after Mr Singh's lawyers made formal representation to the ministry on his behalf.

On Sept 15, the case went to trial but was put on hold when Mr Singh was advised to seek legal assistance from the Community Justice Centre (CJC), an independent charity at the State Courts.

On the second day of the trial, the CJC called on volunteer lawyers to represent Mr Singh on a pro bono basis. Mr Josephus Tan and Mr Cory Wong from Invictus Law Corporation stepped forward and later asked for the case to be stood down.

After Mr Singh's acquittal, Mr Tan told ST that his client, despite facing serious charges, was lost during the trial due to his inability to understand English.

Although he had an interpreter, he was unable to comprehend the legal proceedings, Mr Tan added.

Mr Singh, who speaks Punjabi, told ST through an interpreter: "I was lost during the trial proceedings. Whatever the lawyers told me, I just followed."

"The idea of getting a lawyer never popped up because I have no money. I'm glad they (Mr Tan and Mr Wong) came to help me because I couldn't understand the whole legal process."

The acquittal marked the end of a two-year wait, during which he was out of work due to his injury and the ongoing court case.

He said: "Over those two years, I have been living off the kindness of friends who offered me a place to live, and temples in Little India and Boon Keng which provided free meals."

Mr Singh said he was elated with the outcome as it means he can return home soon to his parents and grandfather. It is not known when he will be repatriated to India.

He plans to work for his father who runs a small shop in Amritsar, where his family lives near the Golden Temple.

Deputy Presiding Judge Jennifer Marie thanked the prosecution for the review of the case and the defence lawyers for representing Mr Singh at the last minute.

CJC executive director Leonard Lee said there was a chance Mr Singh could have faced jail time if he had refused help in one of the centre's first cases under the Aid-in-Persons scheme, which is being piloted.

It provides legal counsel for the underprivileged, such as lower-income groups and migrant workers, in urgent cases.

Under the scheme, a pool of volunteer lawyers and law students provide consultations to help the needy, who face financial constraints or have a foreign status, with mitigation statements and other legal matters. In urgent cases, lawyers may also represent them.

"When there is a knotty problem (in court), these volunteer lawyers are willing to step forward and help," said Mr Lee.

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