Abstract:
This article examines the Court of Appeal’s decision in Iskandar bin Jinan v Public Prosecutor [2024] 2 SLR 673 with regard to the application of the Guidelines on Reduction in Sentences for Guilty Pleas (“PG Guidelines”) to drug trafficking cases. This article first starts with analysing the aims and objectives of the PG Guidelines and the Sentencing Advisory Panel. It then sets out a summary of the Court of Appeal’s decision and highlights three main issues arising from the decision. This article posits that a different judicial approach should have been adopted. Alternatively, legislative reforms, with reference to other jurisdictions, are necessary.