N. Sivanandan - Beyond a Reasonable Doubt: Giving Voice to the Accused

A writer is someone who pays attention to the world; he tries to listen to what others arent saying and writes about the silence in the midst of all the noise around.

In the silent courtrooms, sitting next to the ones whom no one else can,

Being the voice in a language where all there could comprehend,

Words which have been the last or one whom hell see again,

Each door shut as verdicts bring them to an end.

But the story lives through his pen as he recalls each one, fifty years later

A man who has loved to write all his life, recalls each experience since he was nineteen years old; his very first job till now. With much delight, pleasure, honour and clarity he shares with us this book beyond the courtrooms. As a dedication to his fifty years in serving the various courts since 1 September 1967, Mr Siva puts all he has in this very first book of his. May it speak to each one just the way he has written it.

Nisa Raja Sekaran,
Senior Executive (CJTD); Assistant Registrar, State Courts

This page-turner is a fascinating read that offers the reader an inside look into some of the most noteworthy cases to be heard at the High Courts. Mr Siva has mined his extensive experience as a seasoned court interpreter and offered valuable insights into human nature and Singapore society. This is a must-read for all who share an interest in the workings of our justice system as well as the crimes that have shocked Singapore.

Vanita Kaneson,
Senior Court Counsellor, State Courts

Mr Siva is extraordinary in many ways. He embraces the spirit of lifelong learning. His professional working life has spanned the Supreme Court, the State Courts and the Family Justice Courts in the Judiciary. I am fascinated and hasten to congratulate Mr Siva for having produced a masterful work. What has emerged is an interesting book that covers many court cases in great detail, based on his wealth of experience as a veteran court interpreter. It offers valuable insights into our society over several decades. I recommend it heartily to all who share an interest in the workings of our justice system.

Daniel Ang,
Deputy Director, Language Services, State Courts

As a student interpreter my very first exposure to quality interpretation was watching Mr Siva interpret for a witness in a murder trial. That observation was etched in my mind and has since served as a yardstick for quality interpretation.

Mary Doris Gnanaraj,
Assistant Director, Language Services, State Courts

I love this book! I know no one else who could have written a book like this. Mr Siva has the real-life experience, passion for his job and life. He has generously shared what he has learnt with all of us.

Jackie Chong,
Senior Language Executive, State Courts

Mr Siva has been a colleague, a friend and a mentor to me. A man who is very experienced in the courts in Singapore. I am very privileged to have crossed paths with him.

Muhammad Rijal,
Senior Language Executive, State Courts

For one who has been around for so many years, and yet still has the desire to contribute, thats very inspiring. Mr Siva is always ready to share and guide. All I need to do is approach him, and Ill have my queries answered.

Zaini Sojah,
Senior Language Executive, State Courts

Heartiest congratulations and best wishes on your fifty years of achievement in the Language Services with the Judiciary. Through the years, you have been a great mentor, guide and friend to all of us. You have always been there to lend a helping hand, to teach and inspire junior officers like me. The knowledge, skills and experience that you have shared are bountiful. I am honoured to be among the few privileged officers to have had the opportunity to work with you in my twenty-five years in the State Courts. I have always admired the love that you have for the Tamil Language and the little poems that you write for us on special occasions. Thank you for always being there to guide and inspire us. Heres wishing you all the very best in the years to come.

Jayanthi Jaganathan,
Language Services, State Courts

BEYOND A
REASONABLE
DOUBT

BEYOND A
REASONABLE
DOUBT

GIVING VOICE TO THE ACCUSED

N SIVANANDAN

2019 Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Private Limited

Published by Marshall Cavendish Editions

An imprint of Marshall Cavendish International

Reprinted 2019

All rights reserved

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National Library Board, Singapore Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

Name(s): N. Sivanandan.

Title: Beyond a reasonable doubt : giving voice to the accused / N. Sivanandan. Description: Singapore : Marshall Cavendish Editions, [2019]

Identifier(s): OCN 1090528691 | eISBN: 978 981 4868 05 1

Subject(s): LCSH: TrialsSingaporeHistory. | Court interpreting and translatingSingapore. | N. Sivanandan.

Classification: DDC 345.07095957--dc23

Printed in Singapore

Cover photo by VikaSuh from Shutterstock.

For my parents,
who supported my dreams and
encouraged me throughout my career.

Some time in September 2016, during a work discussion with Judge Bala Reddy in his chambers, he suggested that I write about my long experiences in the courts. The former principal district judge of the Community Justice Tribunals Division felt I should share with my younger colleagues what I had learnt in the Subordinate Courts, the State Courts and the High Court.

In all, I have completed more than five decades as an interpreter in the Judiciary, two decades of which were at the High Court. Judge Reddy had himself spent more than three decades both on the Bench and as a leading prosecuting officer of the Attorney-Generals Chambers. Convinced that the interpreter is the extra element, the personal touch as the voice box of the witness, he was of the view that I should compile a variety of interesting cases that highlighted my role as an interpreter especially the particular events during trials; the behaviour and mannerisms of counsel and deputies; the use of language by witnesses; the interpretation difficulties I had and how I overcame them.