In essence, a voluntary surrender is going to the police to confess to against the law you’ve committed, versus expecting the police to seek out and arrest you.

What Happens If you Voluntarily Surrender towards the Law enforcement?
The procedures you may face if you voluntarily surrender into the police are similar to in the event you were arrested.

The actions taken in opposition to you count largely on irrespective of whether you’ve committed an arrestable or non-arrestable offence.

Arrestable offences seek advice from offences that allow the police to help make an arrest with no warrant, and include things like offences like theft, robbery and rape. The guideline is usually that offences which can be punishable with no less than 3 several years of imprisonment, or simply a Loss of life sentence, are categorised as arrestable.

On the flip side, a non-arrestable offence is one in which the law enforcement will require to get a warrant in advance of carrying out an arrest. Offences that drop underneath this category are voluntarily triggering damage and dishonest misappropriation of property, amid Many others.

When you have dedicated an arrestable offence
When you've got committed an arrestable offence, the police will observe an arrest procedure that starts with getting you into custody after your voluntary surrender.

The police will then start an investigation, which involves taking witness statements. Alternatively, you could have for making a notice statement In case the law enforcement decides to go in advance with pressing fees.

You may well be required to take a polygraph (or lie detector) examination or get involved in an identification parade, in which you might be lined up with Others to permit victims and eyewitnesses to identify you, also.

Preferably, you have to be relatively nicely-versed using your legal rights in custody, including the right to produce a mobile phone get in touch with to All your family members or to consult a lawyer (offered that these functions will not likely inhibit the investigation). Having said that, it's important to note that your appropriate to refer to an attorney typically arises only right after interrogations are already executed.

For more info, you may want to make reference to our write-up on police custody in Singapore.

Should you have fully commited a non-arrestable offence
During this scenario, even When you have turned oneself in for the law enforcement, you won't be taken into custody promptly.

In its place, the law enforcement will gather witness reviews and document any events concerned. Any attainable target(s) of your respective offence might be encouraged to file a Justice of the peace’s Criticism for further action to be taken.

Once the Complaint continues to be obtained, the Magistrate will then choose exactly what the most suitable program of action will probably be. It is only at this time that a warrant may be issued to get you into police custody, In the event the Magistrate directs the police to conduct an investigation in to the Complaint.

Is Producing a Voluntary Surrender a Mitigating Element?
Voluntarily surrendering for the police demonstrates a willingness to cooperate and signifies probably remorse and repentance. Your surrender would also allow the police to invest their time and resources into other investigations.

This could play an element during the choose’s conclusion and you may well be supplied a lighter sentence in your diploma of cooperation.

Scenario examine: No jail expression right after voluntary surrender
In 2018, then 24-yr-previous Ekawit Tangtrakarn, obtained a $6,000 fine for defaulting on his National Company (NS) obligations.

While Ekawit mainly lived in Thailand, he was registered being a Singapore Citizen – generating him responsible for NS. In October 2015, he misplaced his Singaporean citizenship following failing to take the Oath of Renunciation, Allegiance and Loyalty in just twelve months of his twenty first birthday.

Even so, dropping his Singaporean citizenship did not alleviate him of his NS obligations, and Ekawit later voluntarily returned to Singapore to facial area his prices for defaulting on them. His voluntary return Consequently held fat like a mitigating element.

Therefore, after the court docket took other mitigating components into consideration, what could have been a optimum 3-calendar year imprisonment expression plus a $10,000 good, becoming the most penalties beneath the Enlistment Act, grew to become a feasible 9-7 days jail expression that was ultimately lessened to the $six,000 fantastic.

Getting your charges taken into account to the reasons of sentencing

With regards to your conviction and you are struggling with a number of expenses, voluntarily admitting to your offences also helps prevent the problem in the prosecution proceeding with Each individual cost towards you separately. This permits for the potential for you getting such prices taken into account for sentencing rather.

Subsequently, chances are you'll confront fewer rates or possibly a decreased sentence compared to when you have been to deny or dispute the charges.

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Voluntarily surrendering to your police may establish for being helpful afterwards within your case. Your admission on your crime could be very well-obtained and work with your favour, decreasing your punishment noticeably.

Should you be nonetheless Doubtful on how to proceed, you may engage a prison defence attorney to hunt tips on your situation, along with explain your rights. A seasoned lawyer can very best get ready you on what to expect if you switch oneself in and the way to manage any investigations carried out in opposition to Criminal lawyer you.