Leeson faces English system, minus jury in S'pore

Leeson faces English system, minus jury in S'pore

By Jerry Norton

SINGAPORE (Reuter): Singapore's justice system, whose judgment
Briton Nick Leeson now says he will accept, is based largely on
an English model, but without a jury system.

And, it has prisons which have been called "spartan but
humane".

Leeson, the 28-year-old trader blamed for the collapse of
Barings Bank, battled extradition to Singapore from Germany for
months, saying he would prefer to be tried in Britain.

But on Monday, in a statement through his Singapore lawyer, he
said: "After consulting my legal advisers, I am satisfied that I
will be fairly tried and judged in Singapore.

"I wish to apologize to all Singaporeans for having doubted
that I could receive a fair trial. I have decided to voluntarily
return to Singapore and I will therefore not be pursuing my
appeal against the extradition order in Germany."

Leeson faces forgery and fraud charges related to US$1.4
billion in trading losses he is alleged to have built up when
based in Singapore.

His Monday statement contrasted with earlier criticism of
Singapore and his contention he would get a better hearing if
tried in Britain.

Singapore's legal system has borrowed heavily from English and
common law, but cases are heard by judges, not juries.
Many in the city state see that as an advantage.

"Because we don't have a jury system here, he may actually get
a fairer trial," Jeffrey Pinsler, vice dean of the Faculty of Law
at the National University of Singapore, said when asked about
the earlier criticisms.

Pinsler said an experienced judge would only be influenced by
the case as it was presented in court.

Soon after America's epic O.J. Simpson trial ended in
acquittal amid claims race and politics may have influenced the
jury, lawyer Ramanathan Palakrishnan said that episode had
strengthened his faith in Singapore's non-jury system.

He said the Simpson case highlighted the pressure juries face
from media coverage during highly publicized trials.

In Singapore, trials are generally open to the public and
media, but television and still cameras are not permitted.

Cases can run for months, with arguments and appeals not just
over guilt or innocence but punishment.

On punishment, Singapore legal experts have dismissed an
earlier claim by Leeson that he faces a minimum of 14 years in
jail in the city state if convicted.

"Under Singapore law, some offenses have a minimum sentence,
like armed robbery, drug-trafficking and acts of violence,"
Edmond Pereira, a former district judge now a private lawyer,
told Reuters in July when Leeson's claim emerged.

"But not for the charges Nick Leeson is facing or is likely to
face. He is unduly worrying himself."

Singapore lawyers say cheating carries a maximum sentence of
seven years. "But nobody as far as I know, in the history of
Singapore, has ever gotten the maximum sentence for cheating,"
one lawyer told Reuters.

White-collar criminals sentenced to five years or more are
kept in maximum-security prisons. Those given shorter terms go to
medium-security institutions.

Singapore's most famous maximum-security prison is Changi,
opened in 1937 and housing about 1,700 inmates. Japan held
prisoners there during the 1942-45 occupation, and James
Clavell's novel and the film "King Rat" depicted the prison in
that era. It has since undergone a number of renovations.

When Leeson raised concerns about jail conditions earlier this
year, a Prisons Department spokesman said in a written response
to queries from Reuters that: "Singapore adheres to
internationally accepted minimum standards for the treatment of
prisoners. Prison conditions are spartan but humane."

The spokesman said that in contrast to many Western countries
where inmates get many of the creature comforts they formerly
enjoyed as free citizens, "Singapore, as with most other Asian
countries, does not adopt such practices".

One former inmate told Reuters: "If you behave well, it's not
a harsh life. It's just like the rest of Singapore -- there are a
lot of rules and regulations, but if you don't break the rules,
nothing will happen to you."