PUBLIC PROSECUTOR v RANDY ROSIGIT

Case Significance

Public Prosecutor v Randy Rosigit [2024] SGHC 171 was a grounds of decision of the General Division of the High Court of Singapore (Magistrate's Appeal No 9008 of 2023/01), delivered by Vincent Hoong J on 4 July 2024 on behalf of a coram comprising Sundaresh Menon CJ, Tay Yong Kwang JCA and Vincent Hoong J, following hearings on 22 November 2023 and 15 May 2024. The case concerned offences under ss 377BK(1) and 377BK(2) of the Penal Code (Cap 224, 2008 Rev Ed), which criminalise, among other things, possession of child abuse material.

The judgment situated s 377BK within the 2019 amendments to the Penal Code — introduced by s 120 of the Criminal Law Reform Act 2019 (Act 15 of 2019) — that were designed to address the entire ecosystem of child abuse material, from production to distribution and consumption. The court referred to Parliamentary statements by the Minister for Home Affairs, K Shanmugam, on the terrible harm caused to children used in producing such material. The matter, addressing the sentencing framework for ss 377BK(1) and 377BK(2), was argued by Etsuko Lim, Gail Wong and Tai Wei Shyong of the Attorney-General's Chambers for the Prosecution; Dhillon & Panoo LLC (Dhillon Surinder Singh and Quay Wee Meng Andrew) for the respondent, Randy Rosigit; and Benny Santoso of Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP as young independent counsel.