Ms June Fong1, Dr Rajesh Jacob1
1Promises Healthcare, Singapore
Biography:
June Fong is a senior forensic psychologist working in Promises Healthcare. She earned her Bachelor of Social Science (Hons) in Psychology from the National University of Singapore, and subsequently graduated with top honours in Masters of Forensic Psychology from the University of New South Wales, Australia, one of the few prestigious institutions which specialises in clinical and forensic psychology. She provides both clinical and forensic psychological services to children, adolescents, and adults. She carries out regular forensic assessments for offenders accused of serious crimes and prepares forensic reports on a regular basis.
Abstract:
The WP case illustrates the impact of evolving social norms and ongoing legal reforms in Singapore, with particular emphasis on the increasing recognition and influence of psychiatric evidence within drug trafficking cases. Apprehended on November 3, 2008, while importing 35.66 grams of heroin into Singapore, Primus was initially subject to the then-mandatory death penalty, receiving his sentence in 2009. Following the implementation of legislative reforms that broadened the scope for judicial consideration of diminished responsibility, stemming from mental abnormality, an application for re-sentencing was submitted in 2014. This appeal centered on a complex interplay of factors impacting Primus’s mental state at the time of the offense. Notably, psychiatric reports revealed the presence of major depressive disorder, significantly low intellectual functioning, and indications of cognitive impairment potentially linked to a prior head injury. Further exacerbating these factors, circumstances such as the loss of his girlfriend, the passing of his grandfather, and the illness of his mother contributed significantly to his overall state of depression and decline of cognitive abilities.
Reflecting a broader shift in legal thinking, WP's initial sentence was ultimately commuted to life imprisonment. This legal transformation emphasizes the increasing significance of mental health considerations within Singapore's justice system and demonstrates the ways that evolving norms surrounding compassion, fairness, and individual well-being have served to influence legal interpretations and outcomes alike.