Public Prosecutor v. Kanesan S/O Ratnam: Murder Conviction for Prison Inmate

In Public Prosecutor v. Kanesan S/O Ratnam, the High Court of Singapore found Kanesan S/O Ratnam guilty of murdering his cellmate, Shanker Suppiahmaniam, in Queenstown Remand Prison on August 10, 2001. The court, presided over by Judicial Commissioner Choo Han Teck, determined that Ratnam intentionally strangled Suppiahmaniam, leading to his death. Ratnam was sentenced to death.

1. Case Overview

1.1 Court

High Court

1.2 Outcome

Guilty as charged and sentenced to suffer death.

1.3 Case Type

Criminal

1.4 Judgment Type

Grounds of Decision

1.5 Jurisdiction

Singapore

1.6 Description

Kanesan S/O Ratnam was convicted of murder for strangling his cellmate. The court found the accused guilty and sentenced him to death.

1.7 Decision Date

2. Parties and Outcomes

Party NameRoleTypeOutcomeOutcome TypeCounsels
Public ProsecutorProsecutionGovernment AgencyGuilty as chargedWon
Amarjit Singh of Attorney-General’s Chambers
Jason Tan of Attorney-General’s Chambers
Chng Hwee Chin of Attorney-General’s Chambers
Kanesan S/O RatnamDefenseIndividualSentenced to suffer deathLost

3. Judges

Judge NameTitleDelivered Judgment
Choo Han TeckJudicial CommissionerYes

4. Counsels

Counsel NameOrganization
Amarjit SinghAttorney-General’s Chambers
Jason TanAttorney-General’s Chambers
Chng Hwee ChinAttorney-General’s Chambers
Shashi NathanHarry Elias Partnership
Ratanesh Kaur BalStraits Law Practice LLC

4. Facts

  1. The accused was a 36-year-old inmate at Queenstown Remand Prison.
  2. The accused shared a cell with Shanker Suppiahmaniam and Panneerselvan Lallayah.
  3. The accused strangled Shanker in their cell.
  4. Shanker died from asphyxia due to compressive neck injury.
  5. The accused confessed to the crime in statements to prison wardens and police investigators.
  6. The accused planned to kill Shanker so that he would be sent to the gallows.

5. Formal Citations

  1. Public Prosecutor v Kanesan S/O Ratnam, CC 8/2002, [2002] SGHC 42

6. Timeline

DateEvent
Shanker Suppiahmaniam found dead in cell B 141.
Accused made statements confessing to the crime.
Judgment issued.

7. Legal Issues

  1. Murder
    • Outcome: The court found the accused guilty of murder.
    • Category: Substantive

8. Remedies Sought

  1. Death penalty

9. Cause of Actions

  • Murder

10. Practice Areas

  • Criminal Law

11. Industries

  • No industries specified

12. Cited Cases

Case NameCourtAffirmedCitationJurisdictionSignificance
No cited cases

13. Applicable Rules

Rule Name
No applicable rules

14. Applicable Statutes

Statute NameJurisdiction
No applicable statutes

15. Key Terms and Keywords

15.1 Key Terms

  • Murder
  • Asphyxia
  • Compressive neck injury
  • Strangulation
  • Confession
  • Queenstown Remand Prison

15.2 Keywords

  • Murder
  • Singapore
  • Criminal Law
  • Prison
  • Strangulation

17. Areas of Law

Area NameRelevance Score
Criminal Law95
Murder90
Sentencing80
Confessions70
Diminished Responsibility60
Criminal Procedure60
Evidence50
Psychiatry40

16. Subjects

  • Criminal Law