If the police have called, you need a clear next step
If you’re reading this at midnight after a police officer called you in for questioning, or because someone in your family was just arrested after a fight, you don’t need a long lecture. You need to know what happens next.
I’m Hasif. I’m an Associate Director at A.W. Law LLC in Chinatown, and I represent people facing assault charges at the State Courts. Most of the people I meet on this matter are not career criminals. They got into a fight at a coffee shop, an argument got physical at home, a security officer was pushed at a worksite. They’re now scared, and they don’t know what’s real.
This page tells you what the law actually says, what a sentence looks like, and what the first 10 minutes with us will cover. Nothing commits you.
What an assault charge in Singapore actually is
In Singapore, “assault” is a common word, but in the law, the charges fall under sections 321 to 326 of the Penal Code 1871. These cover what we call hurt offences: causing another person physical pain, injury, or worse.
The main charges you’ll see on a charge sheet:
- Voluntarily causing hurt (section 323). You caused someone physical pain, disease, or infirmity. A slap, a punch, a push that leaves a bruise. Maximum 3 years’ jail, a fine up to S$5,000, or both.
- Voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapon (section 324). Same as above, but with a knife, a bottle, a rod, or anything else that can seriously injure. Maximum 7 years’ jail, with a fine or caning.
- Voluntarily causing grievous hurt (section 325). Serious injuries: broken bones, a fractured skull, loss of sight, loss of hearing, permanent disfigurement, or injuries that stop the victim working for 20 days or more. Up to 10 years’ jail, with a fine or caning.
- Grievous hurt by dangerous weapon (section 326). The worst of the hurt charges short of attempted murder. Up to life imprisonment, with a fine or caning.
The cases go to the State Courts for most matters. Very serious cases, or cases linked to other charges, can be heard in the High Court.
If the fight happened at home with a family member, the charge may look the same, but the context changes everything. See our Domestic Violence Defence page for that. If a weapon was involved, read our page on weapons offences too.
When you need a lawyer, and when you really need one now
Short version: any time the police contact you about an assault, you need a lawyer. Even if you think you didn’t do anything wrong. Even if you were the one who got hurt and then hit back.
Three stages where the call matters:
- Before you give your police statement. Singapore doesn’t allow a lawyer in the interview room, but a lawyer can brief you on your rights before you walk in. What’s a formal caution (the warning the officer reads before you speak)? What must you answer, and what can you decline? These details change everything.
- When the police release you on bail or bond. The conditions you accept now can trip you up later. We read them before you sign.
- After you receive a charge sheet or a Notice to Attend Court. This is the formal document telling you what you’re accused of. From here, every deadline matters. Don’t miss the first court date.
Our blog on what to do if you get arrested in Singapore walks through your rights at each stage.
What to expect from a Singapore assault case, honestly
How long it takes.
Police investigation usually runs 1 to 6 months. After the charge, pre-trial conferences take another 2 to 4 months. If you plead guilty, sentencing follows within 2 to 3 months. If you claim trial (fight the charge at a full hearing), add another 6 to 12 months, sometimes longer. Total: 6 to 18 months end to end for most cases.
How much it costs.
A plead-guilty representation at the State Courts usually starts from S$5,000, depending on how many mitigation witnesses and how complex the facts are. Claim trial matters run S$15,000 to S$50,000 or more across the whole case, depending on how many hearing days, how many witnesses, and whether expert evidence is needed. We give you a written cap before we start any paid work. The 10-minute Assault Discovery Session is free. If your income qualifies, the Legal Aid Bureau may help with representation; we’ll flag this at the first meeting.
What’s the hard part.
Two things, in every case.
One, the waiting. Criminal matters move at the pace of the police, the prosecution, and the court. We can’t make them go faster. We can make sure no deadline is missed and that every reply is sharp.
Two, the sentencing reality. Grievous hurt and weapons charges carry caning (strokes of the cane, ordered in addition to jail for men under 50) as part of the punishment. For serious cases, it’s a mandatory element. Your lawyer’s job is to make the strongest possible mitigation to reduce the overall sentence, not to pretend the law is softer than it is.
How we handle assault matters at A.W. Law
A few things we do differently:
- One lawyer, from start to end. Hasif takes your first meeting and stays on your case through to sentencing or trial. No handover between associates.
- Letters in simple terms. You’ll understand every document before you sign.
- We reply at night. WhatsApp us until 10pm on weekdays. Criminal matters often surface after office hours.
- Speak your language. English, Malay, or Tamil. Whichever you’re comfortable in.
- Honest advice. If the sensible move is to plead guilty with a strong mitigation, we’ll tell you. If there’s a real defence, we’ll run it properly.
We’re at 133 New Bridge Road, #20-03 Chinatown Point. Two minutes’ walk from Chinatown MRT, Exit E.
What happens next
If you’ve been called in for questioning, bailed out, or charged, the next step is simple. Book a free 10-min Assault Discovery Session using the form on this page, or message us on WhatsApp. Most sessions end with a short list of things to bring to the next meeting and a clear view of the likely timeline and cost. Nothing commits you.
