ABOUT THE SINGAPORE WAR CRIMES TRIALS WEB PORTAL

After the Second World War, 131 war crimes trials were held in Singapore to address atrocities committed during the war. The Singapore War Crimes Trials Web Portal (the SGWCT Web Portal) aims to provide the public with one-stop access to the Singapore Trials and to serve as a platform for discussions on accountability, justice, and the rule of law.

It features comprehensive case summaries of these war crimes trials and links to relevant archival materials hosted by other websites. In doing so, the SGWCT Web Portal aims to inspire public interest in a crucial but under-explored aspect of Singapore’s legal heritage. The Portal also aims to be a jumping off point for those seeking to learn more about the Singapore War Crimes Trials. The co-founders of the SGWCT Web Portal are Dr Cheah Wui Ling and Ms Ng Pei Yi. The Portal is kindly supported by funding from Singapore's National Heritage Board and the Singapore Academy of Law.

Present-day memorial for 135 Japanese soldiers executed in Changi Gaol, 2016. Image courtesy of © Sng Kiat Peng, reproduced with permission.

Background

This sets out the historical and political background of the Singapore War Crimes Trials. It describes the post-WWII landscape in which the trials took place.

Former crime location and Kempeitai detachment. Present-day aerial view of Oxley Rise, 2016. Image courtesy of © Sng Kiat Peng, reproduced with permission.

Laws

This section explains the legal framework and rules that regulated and applied in the Singapore War Crimes Trials.

Present-day grave of Terauchi Hisaichi (Commander of the Southern Expeditionary Army Group during WWII) at the Japanese Cemetery Park, Singapore, 2016. Image courtesy of © Sng Kiat Peng, reproduced with permission.

Legal Actors

This section contains information about the accused, judges, and lawyers involved in the Singapore War Crimes Trials, such as their ranks, their institutional affiliation, and the role they played in these trials.

Approximate crime scene, visited by court. Present-day location of 14th Milestone in Changi, 2016. Image courtesy of © Sng Kiat Peng, reproduced with permission.

Case Summaries

Case summaries of the Singapore War Crimes Trials contain information about the crime committed, dates of trial, trial personnel involved, and other interesting facts.

TRIAL CATEGORIES

The Singapore Trials dealt with war crimes committed during the Second World War in different locations across Asia, including Singapore, Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. These crimes were committed by accused holding diverse ranks and positions. Many trials address war crimes that are well-known today, such as the Sook Ching massacre and deaths along the Burma-Siam Railway.

PRISON AND CAMP CASES

A substantial number of trials addressed the abuse and neglect of POWs and civilian detainees in prisons and camps, such...

LABOUR-RELATED CASES

Several Singapore Trials dealt with the ill-treatment and deaths of POWs and civilians who worked as labourers on large-scale work...

ILLEGAL KILLINGS

In many cases, military and civilian personnel associated with the Japanese military were prosecuted for directly or indirectly causing the...

ILL-TREATMENT

A number of trials dealt with abuse and ill-treatment that did not result in the outright deaths of the victims....

CASES WITH MULTIPLE CIVILIAN DEATHS

A number of trials in Singapore dealt with cases involving the mass killing of civilians, such as Operation Sook Ching...