The letter from the police or CAD is probably sitting on your desk
If you’ve received a notice to attend from the police, the Commercial Affairs Department, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau, or the Central Narcotics Bureau, you are probably already past your first bad night of sleep. You are not charged yet. But a statement is coming, and what you say in that room will shape what happens next.
I’m Hasif, Associate Director at A.W. Law LLC. Most of my criminal work starts exactly here, before the charge. Early advice is the part of a criminal matter where a lawyer adds the most value, and it is also the part people most often skip.
The first 10 minutes are free. Nothing commits you. If the notice is for later this week, WhatsApp us and we’ll make time.
What a criminal investigation in Singapore actually is
A criminal investigation is the stage between the agency suspecting an offence and the Attorney-General’s Chambers deciding whether to charge. It sits under the Criminal Procedure Code 2010 (the CPC). During this stage, the agency can require you to attend, answer questions, hand over devices, and give statements.
The agencies you are most likely to deal with are these.
- Singapore Police Force (SPF). Most common. Deals with general criminal offences, from theft to assault to public order matters.
- Commercial Affairs Department (CAD). A specialist arm of SPF. Handles fraud, market misconduct, money laundering, and other commercial offences.
- Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB). Handles corruption, both public and private sector. Reports directly to the Prime Minister’s Office.
- Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB). Handles drug offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
- Other agencies. Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, Inland Revenue, Ministry of Manpower, and others have their own enforcement powers.
Two kinds of statement usually matter most.
- The long statement. Also called an investigation statement. Given under section 22 of the CPC. You must attend when required and answer questions truthfully. Silence can, in some cases, be used against you later.
- The statement under caution. Given after the investigating officer tells you what offence you are likely to be charged with. The officer reads you a formal warning. This statement often decides the case.
Three possible endings to an investigation.
- No further action (NFA). The case is closed with no charge and no record of conviction.
- A warning. Stern or conditional. No court record, but noted internally. You usually acknowledge receipt.
- A charge. You are formally charged under the CPC. The case moves to the State Courts or High Court, and bail becomes the first question.
When you need a criminal defence lawyer before charge
The short answer: before your first statement, if possible. Not after.
People come to us at different points in the investigation, and the value a lawyer adds varies with how early you call.
- Before the first statement. Highest value. We brief you on your rights, the scope of your duty to answer, what the agency is probably looking at, and what to expect in the room. We review any documents you have. If the agency asks you to bring devices, we advise on scope.
- After the first statement, before the one under caution. Still very valuable. The caution statement is the pivotal one, and pre-caution advice can avoid a damaging statement being recorded.
- After both statements, before the AGC decides. Still useful. Written representations to the Attorney-General’s Chambers can, in the right matter, result in NFA or a warning instead of a charge.
- After charge. The work shifts to defence planning, bail, and first mention. See our guide on what to do if you get arrested in Singapore for what happens at that point.
The three most common situations we see.
- “I got a notice to attend and I don’t know why.” We help you work out the likely offence, review any documents, and prepare you for the first interview.
- “I’ve already given a long statement and now they want another one.” Usually this is the caution statement coming. Call us before you go back.
- “CAD or CPIB have seized my phone and laptop.” These matters are serious by default. Do not assume it will blow over. Early advice matters.
Timeline, cost, and the hard part
How long it takes. Investigations run on the agency’s clock, not yours. A simple matter may close in weeks. A CAD or CPIB matter often runs six months to two years. A complex commercial or drug matter can run longer. We can write for status updates if nothing is happening, but we cannot force the timeline.
How much it costs. A focused pre-statement advice session is usually S$500 to S$1,500. Full representation through an investigation, including attending with you on the day, drafting representations, and following up with the agency, runs S$5,000 to S$30,000 depending on complexity. CAD and CPIB matters sit at the upper end. All fees are in writing before any paid work. The 10-min Investigation Discovery Session is free.
What’s the hard part. Three things.
One, the waiting. Weeks pass with no news. You assume it has gone away. Then a notice to attend arrives. Live your life, keep records, stay reachable.
Two, the instinct to explain. Most people over-talk in the first statement because they want to clear their name. That often hurts them. A statement is a permanent record. Say what you need to say, accurately, and no more.
Three, the social shame. People hide investigations from family and work. Sometimes that is right, sometimes it is not. We will help you think through who needs to know, and when.
How we handle investigation defence at A.W. Law
A few things we do differently.
- We take the early call. Even if you are not sure you need a lawyer yet, the free 10-min Discovery Session is designed for exactly this uncertainty.
- One lawyer through the whole matter. From pre-statement advice, through any charge decision, to trial if it gets there. See our criminal appeals page if the matter has already moved past conviction.
- Plain language. We tell you what a “statement under caution” actually means before you walk in to give one.
- After-hours WhatsApp. Up to 10pm on weekdays. Notices often arrive on a Friday evening and that is when the panic starts.
- Honest on outcomes. If we think the case will be charged regardless, we will say so. We plan the defence accordingly.
We’re at 133 New Bridge Road, #20-03 Chinatown Point, two minutes from Chinatown MRT, Exit E.
What happens next
If a notice to attend has arrived, or if an officer has called and asked you to come in, the next step is simple. Book a free 10-min Investigation Discovery Session using the form, or WhatsApp us using the button on the screen. Tell us the agency, what’s been said so far, and the date on the notice. We’ll say whether you need a full engagement or just a short pre-statement briefing. Nothing commits you.
