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34 Sing. L. Rev. 1 (2016)
An Overview of the Singapore War Crimes Trials (1946-1948): Prosecuting Lower-Level Accused

handle is hein.journals/singlrev34 and id is 19 raw text is: Singapore Law Review (2016) 34 Sing L Rev AN OVERVIEW OF THE SINGAPORE WAR CRIMES TRIALS (1946-1948): PROSECUTING LOWER-LEVEL ACCUSED CHEAH W L* 21 January 1946. The first British war crimes trial in Southeast Asia is about to begin in Singapore 's Supreme Court that stands with its grand Corinthian columns in Singapore 's city centre. Only a few months ago masses had gathered in front of the courthouse, on the field also known as the Tadang, to witness the Japanese surrender to the returning British. Today, the courthouse bustles with activity again. Military personnel, Allied observers, news cameramen, and reporters jostle among members of the public in the courtroom ' gallery. All eyes are on the ten accused marched by armed guards into the court. The accused enter the dock, bow, and stand to attention. They wear identical plain pants and shirts. They have signs numbered fom one to ten for identification. At the bench, three British military judges take their places. Two judges are British, and one judge is of Indian ethnicity. Thepresidingjudge calls the court to order and declares that the accused will be treated in accordance with the principles of British justice' * Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore. This article was prepared for the launch of the Singapore War Crimes Trials Web Portal. The Portal is generously funded by National Heritage Board and Singapore Academy of Law, and its launch is co-organised by the Singapore Law Review. Thank you to the anonymous peer reviewer for insightful comments and the editors of the Singapore Law Review for their impressive professionalism. My most heartfelt thanks to my project collaborator and friend, Ng Pei Yi, and the wonderful research assistants who helped bring this web portal project to fruition. 1 This description is based on an account of the trial in The Straits Times (hereinafter 'Straits Times'). South-east Asia's first war crimes trial opens, The Straits Times (22 January 1946). The description here is based on the author's own words and reading of the Straits Times account. The full and original trial transcripts and trial-related records are at The National Archives of the UK (hereinafter TNA). TNA staff have entered sequential

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