PUBLIC PROSECUTOR v KOH LEE HWA

[2025] SGHC 264 High Court (General Division) 29 December 2025 • HC/CC 43/2025 • 103 min read

24 cases cited (22 SG, 2 foreign)

Catchwords

Criminal Law — Offences — Rape

Practice Areas

Criminal Law

Judges (1)

Mavis Chionh Sze Chyi Delivered

Counsel (6)

Abbots Chambers LLC Firm Attorney-General's Chambers Firm Emily Koh Counsel Plaintiff Gino Hardial Singh Counsel Defendant Ng Jun Kai Counsel Plaintiff Yeo Kee Hwan Counsel Plaintiff

Parties (2)

Public Prosecutor Plaintiff Koh Lee Hwa Defendant

Case Significance

[2025] SGHC 264 is a High Court (General Division) decision dated 29 December 2025 concerning Criminal Law, specifically addressing offences. The judgment was delivered by Mavis Chionh Sze Chyi. The case was brought by Public Prosecutor (plaintiff) against Koh Lee Hwa (defendant). Legal representation was provided by Attorney-General's Chambers and Abbots Chambers LLC. The judgment cites 24 cases (22 Singapore, 2 foreign) and references 3 statutory provisions, including the Criminal Procedure Code, the Evidence Act, and the Penal Code.

Summary

A 49-year-old Malaysian man was convicted after trial of four charges including rape and sexual assault by penetration of a complainant in her home, with the central dispute being whether consent existed. The court sentenced him to an aggregate of 12 years and three weeks' imprisonment and 13 strokes of the cane, running the rape and outrage of modesty sentences consecutively.

What was decided in [2025] SGHC 264?

[2025] SGHC 264 (PUBLIC PROSECUTOR v KOH LEE HWA) is a High Court (General Division) decision from 29 December 2025 addressing Criminal Law, specifically offences. The judgment was delivered by Mavis Chionh Sze Chyi.

Who were the parties in PUBLIC PROSECUTOR v KOH LEE HWA?

The plaintiff in [2025] SGHC 264 was Public Prosecutor, and the defendant was Koh Lee Hwa. Legal representation included Abbots Chambers LLC and Attorney-General's Chambers. The case was decided on 29 December 2025 in the High Court (General Division).

Which judge decided [2025] SGHC 264?

[2025] SGHC 264 was delivered by Mavis Chionh Sze Chyi in the High Court (General Division) on 29 December 2025. The case concerned Criminal Law.

What cases and statutes does [2025] SGHC 264 cite?

[2025] SGHC 264 cites 24 prior decisions, including 2 from foreign jurisdictions. It references Criminal Procedure Code, Evidence Act, Penal Code.

Statutes Cited

Criminal Procedure Code (Cap 68)

s 307(1)

Evidence Act (Cap 97)

Penal Code (Cap 224)

s 354(1) s 375(2) s 376(3)

Cases Cited (24)

SG (6)

[2021] SGCA 106 [2021] SGHC 115 [2021] SGMC 34 [2022] SGHC 91 [2023] SGHC 11 [2023] SGHC 93

SLR (16)

[1996] 3 SLR(R) 444 [2000] 2 SLR(R) 824 [2008] 1 SLR(R) 601 [2008] 4 SLR(R) 686 [2012] 3 SLR 34 [2014] 2 SLR 998 [2016] 5 SLR 636 [2017] 2 SLR 1015 [2017] 2 SLR 449 [2018] 3 SLR 1048 [2018] 4 SLR 580 [2018] 5 SLR 799 [2019] 1 SLR 829 [2020] 1 SLR 486 [2020] 5 SLR 1130 [2025] 3 SLR 578

UK (1)

[1916] 2 KB 658

MY (1)

[1950] MLJ 33

Judgment

Read the full judgment on the official Singapore Courts portal.

Read on eLitigation

Source: eLitigation ([2025] SGHC 264)