More to benefit from legal aid schemes with new eligibility criteria

The Law Ministry said plans are underway to make civil legal and criminal defence aids more accessible. It will be revising the quantum of eligibility thresholds for Per Capita Household Income and Annual Value. Law Minister K Shanmugam said the capacity and capabilities of the Public Defender's Office will be raised, so as to help more people get access to justice. The PDO provides criminal defence aid to eligible individuals who are facing non-capital charges but cannot afford a lawyer.