Mohamed Aliff v Public Prosecutor: Murder Conviction Appeal for Infant Death

Mohamed Aliff bin Mohamed Yusoff appealed to the Court of Appeal of the Republic of Singapore against his conviction for murder in the High Court for causing the death of a 9-month-old infant, Izz Fayyaz Zayani Bin Ahmad. The Prosecution argued that Aliff intentionally pushed the boy's head against a wooden floorboard, resulting in fatal brain injuries. Aliff maintained the boy's death was accidental. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, affirming the High Court's decision that Aliff was guilty of murder.

1. Case Overview

1.1 Court

Court of Appeal of the Republic of Singapore

1.2 Outcome

Appeal Dismissed

1.3 Case Type

Criminal

1.4 Judgment Type

Ex Tempore Judgment

1.5 Jurisdiction

Singapore

1.6 Description

Mohamed Aliff appeals his murder conviction for the death of a 9-month-old. The Court of Appeal affirmed the conviction, finding his claim of accidental fall untrue.

1.7 Decision Date

2. Parties and Outcomes

Party NameRoleTypeOutcomeOutcome TypeCounsels
Public ProsecutorRespondentGovernment AgencyJudgment AffirmedWon
Lim Shin Hui of Attorney-General’s Chambers
Han Ming Kuang of Attorney-General’s Chambers
Mohamed Aliff bin Mohamed YusoffAppellantIndividualAppeal DismissedLost

3. Judges

Judge NameTitleDelivered Judgment
Tay Yong KwangJustice of the Court of AppealYes
Steven ChongJustice of the Court of AppealNo
Belinda Ang Saw EanJustice of the Court of AppealNo

4. Counsels

Counsel NameOrganization
Lim Shin HuiAttorney-General’s Chambers
Han Ming KuangAttorney-General’s Chambers
Kanagavijayan NadarajanKana & Co

4. Facts

  1. The appellant was convicted of murder for causing the death of a 9-month-old boy.
  2. The prosecution argued the appellant intentionally pushed the boy's head against a wooden floorboard.
  3. The appellant claimed the boy's death was due to an accidental fall.
  4. The appellant challenged the admissibility of statements given to the police, alleging threats.
  5. The court found the appellant's statements were made voluntarily and admitted them as evidence.
  6. The appellant's post-incident conduct was inconsistent with his claim of an accidental fall.
  7. The appellant showed no urgency in bringing the boy to the hospital.

5. Formal Citations

  1. Mohamed Aliff bin Mohamed Yusoff v Public Prosecutor, Criminal Appeal No 28 of 2022, [2023] SGCA 25

6. Timeline

DateEvent
Incident occurred between 10:00 PM and 12:15 AM on November 8, 2019
Appellant questioned at Woodlands Police Division Headquarters
Appellant questioned in an interview room
Criminal Case No 21 of 2022 Between Public Prosecutor And Mohamed Aliff bin Mohamed Yusoff
Criminal Appeal No 28 of 2022 Between Mohamed Aliff bin Mohamed Yusoff and Public Prosecutor
Judgment delivered

7. Legal Issues

  1. Admissibility of Statements
    • Outcome: The court agreed with the trial judge's reasoning and accepted that the disputed statements had been made voluntarily and were admitted correctly as evidence.
    • Category: Procedural
  2. Murder
    • Outcome: The court affirmed the trial judge's conclusion that the appellant was guilty as charged.
    • Category: Substantive

8. Remedies Sought

  1. Appeal against Conviction

9. Cause of Actions

  • Murder

10. Practice Areas

  • Criminal Law
  • Appeals

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
Penal Code (Cap 224, 2008 Rev Ed) s 300(c)Singapore
Penal Code (Cap 224, 2008 Rev Ed) s 302(2)Singapore

15. Key Terms and Keywords

15.1 Key Terms

  • Murder
  • Accidental Fall
  • Voluntary Statements
  • Intracranial Haemorrhage
  • Blunt Force Trauma

15.2 Keywords

  • Murder
  • Criminal Appeal
  • Singapore Law
  • Infant Death

17. Areas of Law

Area NameRelevance Score
Criminal Law95
Murder95
Evidence Law60
Criminal Procedure50
Appeal40

16. Subjects

  • Criminal Law