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Under the proposed changes, all offences under the THPA will become arrestable, with the director-general and authorised officers given powers to make arrests in Singapore to secure the cooperation of persons of interest.<\/span><\/p>\n The courts will also be able to hear and determine cases in the absence of accused persons in specified circumstances.<\/span><\/p>\n Ms Fu said this would be consistent with existing court procedures where the court is satisfied that the relevant summons or notice has been duly served, the accused has been informed that the matter can proceed in his or her absence, and there is insufficient reason to adjourn the case.<\/span><\/p>\n The amendments would also allow legal documents to be served electronically, and through specified forms of substituted service such as publication in public media or on NEA\u2019s website, in addition to existing modes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThis will help address practical difficulties in serving notices and initiating formal processes involving foreign entities,\u201d Ms Fu said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThese changes do not guarantee that overseas entities will cooperate all the time. But they will remove procedural obstacles that have constrained our ability to proceed with investigations and legal processes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The amendments would also allow the authorities to intervene when there is a risk of haze pollution to Singapore, rather than when haze enters the country.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Singapore will focus its resources on fires that pose a \u201ccredible risk of haze\u201d affecting the country, with NEA continuing to monitor indicators to assess such risks, said Ms Fu.<\/span><\/p>\n The agency will consider factors such as the distance of fires from Singapore, the duration and extent of burning, and prevailing wind directions and meteorological conditions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The statutory defences available to companies will also be tightened to clarify what constitutes responsible behaviour.<\/span><\/p>\n The current Act provides entities with three defences: That the fire was due solely to a natural disaster or an act of war; that the fire was caused by another person acting without the accused\u2019s knowledge; or that the entity had taken reasonable measures to prevent and fight the fire.<\/span><\/p>\n Under the amendments, entities will now have to prove that the fire was caused by another person acting without their knowledge and that they have taken reasonable measures to prevent and fight the fire.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThis recalibrated defence sends a strong signal of our expectations. Entities are expected to take sufficient care to avoid burning on their land. It will no longer be sufficient to simply claim that another person caused the fire,\u201d Ms Fu said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Singapore will continue working with its neighbours to strengthen regional cooperation and prevent fires at source, Ms Fu said, citing the<\/span> joint task force to be established by Singapore and Indonesia<\/span> to probe firms linked to forest fires.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe welcome the steps taken by Indonesia on the ground to prioritise fire prevention as a long-term solution,\u201d Ms Fu said.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBut we must also do what we can within our own jurisdiction, to protect our people from the harmful effects of haze.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe amendments in the Bill will strengthen our ability to establish responsibility, intervene early, and impose meaningful consequences on errant entities.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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