PP v Khor Kok Soon: Arms Offences Act - Use of Firearm with Intent to Injure
In 2005, the High Court of Singapore heard the case of Public Prosecutor v Khor Kok Soon, where Khor was charged with using a firearm with intent to cause physical injury under the Arms Offences Act. The court, presided over by Justice Kan Ting Chiu, found the prosecution had proven the charge beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted and sentenced Khor Kok Soon.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
High Court1.2 Outcome
Convicted and sentenced
1.3 Case Type
Criminal
1.4 Judgment Type
Grounds of Decision
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
Khor Kok Soon was charged under the Arms Offences Act for using a firearm to injure a detective. The court found him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Prosecutor | Prosecution | Government Agency | Judgment for Prosecution | Won | Liew Thiam Leng of Deputy Public Prosecutor Woo Ka Wai of Deputy Public Prosecutor |
| Khor Kok Soon | Defendant | Individual | Convicted | Lost |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Kan Ting Chiu | Judge | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Liew Thiam Leng | Deputy Public Prosecutor |
| Woo Ka Wai | Deputy Public Prosecutor |
| Chia Boon Teck | Chia Yeo Partnership |
| Edmond Pereira | Edmond Pereira and Partners |
4. Facts
- The accused set out with an accomplice to commit robbery and was armed with a pistol.
- The accused went to several banks looking for a target to rob but did not find one.
- Detective Sergeant Lim Kiah Chin and his partner attempted to arrest the accused.
- The accused broke free from the officers and fired his gun.
- The accused boarded a passing lorry and forced the driver to drive off.
- The lorry driver was later found dead with a gunshot wound.
5. Formal Citations
- Public Prosecutor v Khor Kok Soon, CC 33/2004, [2005] SGHC 125
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Accused used a firearm with intent to cause physical injury to Detective Sergeant Lim Kiah Chin | |
| Arms Offences Act 1973 enacted | |
| Presumption added to section 4 of the Arms Offences Act 1973 by Act 30 of 1993 | |
| Accused arrested in Johor | |
| Accused gave further information on the gun | |
| Accused stood trial | |
| Judgment delivered |
7. Legal Issues
- Use of Firearm with Intent to Injure
- Outcome: The court found that the accused had used a firearm with the intent to cause physical injury.
- Category: Substantive
8. Remedies Sought
- Conviction under Section 4 of the Arms Offences Act
9. Cause of Actions
- Violation of Section 4 of the Arms Offences Act
10. Practice Areas
- Criminal Litigation
11. Industries
- No industries specified
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abdul Rahim bin Ali v PP | High Court | Yes | [1997] 2 SLR 249 | Singapore | Dealt with the effect of sections 122(1) and 122(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code on section 32 of the Evidence Act. |
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| No applicable rules |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Arms Offences Act 1973 (No 61 of 1973) | Singapore |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Arms Offences Act
- Firearm
- Intent to Injure
- Robbery
- Detective Sergeant
- Browning pistol
15.2 Keywords
- Arms Offences Act
- Firearm
- Intent to Injure
- Criminal Law
- Singapore
17. Areas of Law
| Area Name | Relevance Score |
|---|---|
| Arms Offences | 95 |
| Criminal Law | 85 |
| Offences | 75 |
| Penal Code | 70 |
| Evidence Law | 60 |
16. Subjects
- Criminal Law
- Arms Offences