If you consult a lawyer, he will consider whether
your complaint is reasonable
to contact the Person to discuss the matter
to go to court to make a complaint
Very often, the problem is resolved when a lawyer meets with the Person and explains the seriousness of the matter to him.
The lawyer is aware that (as far as possible) the matter is best resolved in an amicable manner without going to court. He will try and meet and explain the complaint to the Person in a gentle, yet firm manner because the lawyer is aware that family members will have to live together and see each other everyday.
However, if the Person does not wish to cooperate, it may be necessary to go to the court.
You can see a complaint below
IN THE SUBORDINATE COURTS OF SINGAPORE
COMPLAINT
Complainant
Please state: Miss Tan Ah Moi
NRIC No. S3777371B
Tel: 272 4772
Date: 13 July 13, 2000
Time 11.00 amSolicitor's Name
Mr John A K Lim
Firm: ABC & Partners
Tel: 434 2330 Fax: 334 7008
File Ref No. T623/977804JLRespondents
Please state: Tan Ah Kow
Complaint
Related Case No: None
Police Report No.: D/85 dated 9 July 2000-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------FOR OFFICIAL USE:
MSS/SS/PSS __________/ ___________ ____________ DIV
Summons Serial No: ____________________
Date of Service & Time: ________/________/ __________ 9:00 am / 2:00pm
Court Date & Time :: ________/________/ ___________ 9:00 am / 2:00pm
Court No. :
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Issue Notice/Warrant/Summons
Against :_______________________________________________________
Of :___________________________________________________________
Under Section : _________________________________________________
District Judge/Magistrate:_________________________________________
The complainant being examined on oath states :-
(1) On 9 July 2000, I returned home at around 2.30 am and I saw my brother Tan Ah Kow in the hall of our house. He shouted loudly at me for being late. I told him to mind his own business.
(2) He rushed, screaming that that I was being disrespectful to him. I retreated and tried to get away from him but he caught hold of my hair with his left hand and with his right hand, he hit and slapped me. He dragged me from the hall into the kitchen and continued hitting me. I was injured in the face, lips, arms and legs.
(3) I went to the Alexandra Hospital for treatment. After that I went to the Clementi Police Station to report the attack.
(4) I now pray for process against Tan Ah Kow.
Signature of Complainant
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Before me
Interpreted by
District Judge / Magistrate
Interpreter of the Court
After the magistrate has listened to your complaint, he may issue an order requiring the Person to appear in court.
Where there is a danger that the Person may use further violence on you, the magistrate may issue an order commanding that the Person to stop using violence against you. If the Person disobeys the order, he may be sent to jail or he may be ordered to stay away from your house (that means, the Person has to live somewhere else).
Case 1
A court fined a husband $1,000 and warned him that he would be jailed if he hits his wife again. The wife was unhappy when the husband came home late. They quarreled and the husband hit her head with the blunt side of a chopper. The husband was lucky to escape being sent to jail. The husband was remorseful and the wife had forgiven him.
Case 2
A woman was fined $1,000 for slashing her husband. She took a kitchen knife and confronted her husband when he came home at 3.20 am. She had suspected that the husband was seeing another woman. They fought and the husband received several cuts on his hands. The wife escaped a jail sentence. The couple have three young children. The husband promised not to quarrel and hit the wife again.
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