Hijacking of Aircraft and Protection of Aircraft and International Airports Act 1978

Hijacking of Aircraft and Protection of Aircraft and International Airports Act 1978 2020 REVISED EDITION This revised edition incorporates all amendments up to and including 1 December 2021 and comes into operation on 31 December 2021 An Act to give effect to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft signed at The Hague on 16 December 1970, the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Civil Aviation signed at Montreal on 23 September 1971, the Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts of Violence at Airports Serving International Civil Aviation signed at Montreal on 24 February 1988, the Convention on the Suppression of Unlawful Acts relating to International Civil Aviation signed at Beijing on 10 September 2010 and the Protocol Supplementary to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft signed at Beijing on 10 September 2010, and for purposes connected therewith. [Act 10 of 2022 wef 01/09/2022] [8 April 1978] Short title 1. This Act is the Hijacking of Aircraft and Protection of Aircraft and International Airports Act 1978. Interpretation 2.—(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires — “act of violence” means — (a) an act done in Singapore which constitutes the offence of murder, attempted murder, culpable homicide not amounting to murder, voluntarily causing grievous hurt, voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means, or an offence under — (i) section 4 of the Arms Offences Act 1973; (ii) section 3 or 4 of the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act 1958; or [Act 3 of 2021 wef 01/07/2025] (iii) [Deleted by Act 3 of 2021 wef 01/07/2025] (iv) section 3 of the Kidnapping Act 1961; and (b) an act done outside Singapore which, if done in Singapore, would constitute an offence mentioned in paragraph (a); “aerodrome” has the meaning given by the Air Navigation Act 1966; “air navigation facilities” includes signals, data, information or systems necessary for the navigation of an aircraft; [Act 10 of 2022 wef 01/09/2022] “BCN weapon” means any of the following: (a) biological weapons which are — (i) microbial or other biological agents, or toxins whatever their origin or method of production, of types and in quantities that have no justification for prophylactic, protective or other peaceful purposes; or (ii) weapons, equipment or means of delivery designed to use such agents or toxins for hostile purposes or in armed conflict; (b) chemical weapons which are, together or separately — (i) toxic chemicals and their precursors, except where intended for — (A) industrial, agricultural, research, medical, pharmaceutical or other peaceful purposes; (B) protective purposes, namely those purposes directly related to protection against toxic chemicals and to protection against chemical weapons; (C) military purposes not connected with the use of chemical weapons and not dependent on the use of the toxic properties of chemicals as a method of warfare; or (D) law enforcement, including domestic riot control purposes, as long as the types and quantities are consistent with such purposes; (ii) munitions and devices specifically designed to cause death or other harm through the toxic properties of those toxic chemicals specified in sub-paragraph (i), which would be released as a result of the employment of such munitions and devices; or (iii) equipment specifically designed for use directly in connection with the employment of munitions and devices specified in sub-paragraph (ii); (c) nuclear weapons and other nuclear explosive devices; [Act 10 of 2022 wef 01/09/2022] “IAEA Statute” means the Statute of the International Atomic Energy Agency, being the Statute that was ratified by Singapore on 5 January 1967, and includes any amendment to, or substitution of, the Statute that is binding on Singapore; [Act 10 of 2022 wef 01/09/2022] “landing” includes alighting on water; “military service” includes army, naval and air force service; [Act 10 of 2022 wef 01/09/2022] “nuclear material” means — (a) plutonium, except that with isotropic concentration exceeding 80% in plutonium-238; (b) uranium-233; (c) uranium enriched in the isotope 235 or 233; (d) uranium containing the mixture of isotopes as occurring in nature other than in the form of ore or ore residue; or (e) any material containing one or more of the materials mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (d); [Act 10 of 2022 wef 01/09/2022] “precursor” means any chemical reactant which takes part at any stage in the production by whatever method of a toxic chemical, and includes any key component of a binary or multi-component chemical system; [Act 10 of 2022 wef 01/09/2022] “radioactive material” means nuclear material and other radioactive substances — (a) which contain nuclides which undergo spontaneous disintegration (a process accompanied by emission of one or more types of ionising radiation, such as alpha, beta, neutron particles and gamma rays); and (b) which may, owing to their radiological or fissile properties, cause death, serious bodily injury or substantial damage to property or the environment; [Act 10 of 2022 wef 01/09/2022] “source material” has the meaning given by the IAEA Statute; [Act 10 of 2022 wef 01/09/2022] “special fissionable material” has the meaning given by the IAEA Statute; [Act 10 of 2022 wef 01/09/2022] “toxic chemical” means any chemical which through its chemical action on life processes can cause death, temporary incapacitation or permanent harm to humans or animals, and includes all such chemicals, regardless of their origin or of their method of production, and regardless of whether they are produced in facilities, munitions or elsewhere; [Act 10 of 2022 wef 01/09/2022] “unlawfully”, in relation to the commission of an act — (a) in Singapore, means an offence that is (apart from this Act) constituted under any written law in force in Singapore; and (b) outside Singapore, means the commission of the act that would (apart from this Act) have been an offence under any written law in force in Singapore had it been committed in Singapore; [Act 10 of 2022 wef 01/09/2022] “uranium enriched in the isotope 235 or 233” means uranium containing the isotope 235 or 233 or both in an amount such that the abundance ratio of the sum of these isotopes to the isotope 238 is greater than the ratio of the isotope 235 to the isotope 238 occurring in nature. [Act 10 of 2022 wef 01/09/2022] (2) For the purposes of this Act — (a) the period during which an aircraft is in flight is deemed to include any period from the moment when all its external doors are closed following embarkation until the moment when any such door is opened for disembarkation, and, in the case of a forced landing, any period until the competent authorities take over responsibility for the aircraft and for persons and property on board; and (b) an aircraft is taken to be in service during the whole of the period which begins with the pre-flight preparation of the aircraft for a flight and ends 24 hours after the aircraft lands having completed that flight, and also at any time (not falling within that period) while, in accordance with paragraph (a), the aircraft is in flight. Hijacking 3.—(1) Subject to subsection (2), a person who unlawfully and intentionally seizes or exercises control of an aircraft in service by the use of force or by threats of any kind, or by any technological means, commits the offence of hijacking, whatever the nationality or citizenship of the person, whatever the State in which the aircraft is registered and whether the aircraft is in Singapore or elsewhere. [Act 10 of 2022 wef 01/09/2022] (2) If the aircraft is used in military, customs or police service, subsection (1) does not apply unless — (a) the person seizing or exercising control of the aircraft is a citizen of Singapore; (b) his or her act is committed in or over Singapore; or (c) the aircraft is used in the military, customs or police service of the Republic of Singapore. (3) A person who commits the offence of hijacking shall be guilty of an offence. Violence against passengers or crew 4. Any act of violence against the passengers or crew of an aircraft in service done by a person in connection with the offence of hijacking committed or attempted by him or her on board that aircraft is deemed to have been committed in Singapore and constitutes an offence punishable under the law in force in Singapore applicable thereto, wherever the act of violence was committed, whatever the State of registration of the aircraft and whatever the nationality or citizenship of the offender. [Act 10 of 2022 wef 01/09/2022] Destroying, damaging or endangering safety of aircraft 5.—(1) Subject to subsection (5), a person who unlawfully and intentionally — (a) destroys an aircraft in service or so damages the aircraft as to render it incapable of flight or as to be likely to endanger its safety in flight; or (b) commits on board an aircraft in flight any act of violence which is likely to endanger the safety of the aircraft, shall be guilty of an offence. (2) Subject to subsection (5), a person who unlawfully and intentionally places or causes to be placed on an aircraft in service any device or substance which is likely to destroy the aircraft or is likely so to damage it as to render it incapable of flight or as to be likely to endanger its safety in flight shall be guilty of an offence. (3) Nothing in subsection (2) is to be construed as limiting the circumstances in which the commission of any act — (a) may constitute an offence under subsection (1); or (b) may constitute attempting or conspiring to commit or abetting the commission of the offence. (4) Except as provided by subsection (5), subsections (1) and (2) apply whether any act mentioned in those subsections is committed in Singapore or elsewhere, whatever the nationality or citizenship of the person committing the act or whatever the State in which the aircraft is registered. (5) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to any act committed in relation to an aircraft used in military, customs or police service unless — (a) the act is committed in or over Singapore; [Act 10 of 2022 wef 01/09/2022] (b) where the act is committed outside Singapore, the person committing the act is a citizen of Singapore; or [Act 10 of 2022 wef 01/09/2022] (c) the aircraft is used in the military, customs or police service of the Republic of Singapore. [Act 10 of 2022 wef 01/09/2022] Using aircraft to cause death, serious bodily injury, etc. 5A.—(1) Subject to subsection (3), a person who unlawfully and intentionally uses an aircraft in service for the purpose of causing death, serious bodily injury or serious damage to property or the environment shall be guilty of an offence. (2) Except as provided in subsection (3), subsection (1) applies whether the act mentioned in subsection (1) is committed in Singapore or elsewhere, whatever the nationality or citizenship of the person committing the act or whatever the State in which the aircraft is registered. (3) Subsection (1) does not apply to any act committed in relation to an aircraft used in military, customs or police service unless — (a) the act is committed in or over Singapore; (b) where the act is committed outside Singapore, the person committing the act is a citizen of Singapore; or (c) the aircraft is used in the military, customs or police service of the Republic of Singapore. [Act 10 of 2022 wef 01/09/2022] Release of BCN weapon, etc., from aircraft 5B.—(1) Subject to subsection (3), a person who unlawfully and intentionally releases or discharges from an aircraft in service — (a) any BCN weapon; or (b) any explosive, radioactive or similar substances, in a manner that causes or is likely to cause death, serious bodily injury or serious damage to property or the environment shall be guilty of an offence. (2) Except as provided in subsection (3), subsection (1) applies whether the act mentioned in subsection (1) is committed in Singapore or elsewhere, whatever the nationality or citizenship of the person committing the act or whatever the State in which the aircraft is registered. (3) Subsection (1) does not apply to any act committed in relation to an aircraft used in military, customs or police service unless — (a) the act is committed in or over Singapore; (b) where the act is committed outside Singapore, the person committing the act is a citizen of Singapore; or (c) the aircraft is used in the military, customs or police service of the Republic of Singapore. [Act 10 of 2022 wef 01/09/2022] Using BCN weapon, etc., against or on board aircraft 5C.—(1) Subject to subsection (3), a person who unlawfully and intentionally uses against or on board any aircraft in service — (a) any BCN weapon; or (b) any explosive, radioactive or similar substances, in a manner that causes or is likely to cause death, serious bodily injury or serious damage to property or the environment shall be guilty of an offence. (2) Except as provided in subsection (3), subsection (1) applies whether the act mentioned in subsection (1) is committed in Singapore or elsewhere, whatever the nationality or citizenship of the person committing the act or whatever the State in which the aircraft is registered. (3) Subsection (1) does not apply to any act committed in relation to an aircraft used in military, customs or police service unless — (a) the act is committed in or over Singapore; (b) where the act is committed outside Singapore, the person committing the act is a citizen of Singapore; or (c) the aircraft is used in the military, customs or police service of the Republic of Singapore. [Act 10 of 2022 wef 01/09/2022] Transporting or facilitating transport of BCN weapon, etc., on board aircraft 5D.—(1) Subject to subsections (3) and (4), a person who unlawfully and intentionally transports or causes to be transported, or facilitates the transport of, any of the following on board an aircraft shall be guilty of an offence: (a) any explosive or radioactive material, knowing that it is intended to be used to cause, or in a threat (whether with or without a condition) to cause, death or serious injury or damage for the purpose of intimidating a population, or compelling a government or an international organisation to do or to abstain from doing any act; (b) any BCN weapon which the person knows to be a BCN weapon; (c) any source material, special fissionable material, or equipment or material specially designed or prepared for the processing, use or production of special fissionable material, knowing that it is intended to be used in a nuclear explosive activity or in any other nuclear activity not under safeguards pursuant to a Safeguards Agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency; (d) any equipment, materials or software or related technology that significantly contributes to the design, manufacture or delivery of a BCN weapon without lawful authorisation and with the intention that it will be used for such purpose. (2) Except as provided in subsections (3) and (4), subsection (1) applies whether the act mentioned in subsection (1) is committed in Singapore or elsewhere, whatever the nationality or citizenship of the person committing the act or whatever the State in which the aircraft is registered. (3) Subsection (1)(c) and (d) does not apply to, or in relation to, the transport of any item mentioned in those provisions if the transport — (a) involves an activity undertaken by a State party to the Convention on the Suppression of Unlawful Acts relating to International Civil Aviation signed at Beijing on 10 September 2010, or any person authorised by that State party; and (b) is consistent with, or is for a use or an activity that is consistent with, that State party’s rights, responsibilities and obligations under any multilateral non-proliferation treaty which that State is party to. (4) Subsection (1) also does not apply to any act committed in relation to an aircraft used in military, customs or police service unless — (a) the act is committed in or over Singapore; (b) where the act is committed outside Singapore, the person committing the act is a citizen of Singapore; or (c) the aircraft is used in the military, customs or police service of the Republic of Singapore. [Act 10 of 2022 wef 01/09/2022] Other acts endangering or likely to endanger safety of aircraft 6.—(1) Subject to subsection (6), a person who unlawfully and intentionally destroys or damages any property to which this section applies or interferes with the operation of that property, where the destruction, damage or interference is likely to endanger the safety of aircraft in flight, shall be guilty of an offence. [Act 10 of 2022 wef 01/09/2022] (2) Subsection (1) applies — (a) to any property used for the provision of air navigation facilities, including — (i) any land, building or ship so used; and (ii) any apparatus or equipment so used, whether on board an aircraft or elsewhere; and (b) if the air navigation facilities are used in international air navigation. [Act 10 of 2022 wef 01/09/2022] (3) Subject to subsection (6), a person who intentionally communicates any information which is false, misleading or deceptive in a material particular, where the communication of the information endangers the safety of an aircraft in flight or is likely to endanger the safety of an aircraft in flight, shall be guilty of an offence. [Act 10 of 2022 wef 01/09/2022] (4) It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (3) to prove that — (a) he or she believed, and had reasonable grounds for believing, that the information was true; or (b) when he or she communicated the information, he or she was lawfully employed to perform duties which consisted of or included the communication of information and that he or she communicated the information in good faith in the performance of those duties. (5) Except as provided in subsection (6), subsections (1) and (3) apply whether any act mentioned in those subsections is committed in Singapore or elsewhere, whatever the nationality or citizenship of the person committing the act or whatever the State in which the aircraft is registered. [Act 10 of 2022 wef 01/09/2022] (6) Subsections (1) and (3) do not apply to any act committed in relation to an aircraft used in military, customs or police service unless — (a) the act is committed in or over Singapore; (b) where the act is committed outside Singapore, the person committing the act is a citizen of Singapore; or (c) the aircraft is used in the military, customs or police service of the Republic of Singapore. [Act 10 of 2022 wef 01/09/2022] (7) [Deleted by Act 10 of 2022 wef 01/09/2022] Endangering safety at aerodromes 7.—(1) A person who by means of any device, substance or weapon intentionally commits at an aerodrome serving international civil aviation any act of violence which — (a) causes or is likely to cause death or serious personal injury; and (b) endangers or is likely to endanger the safe operation of the aerodrome or the safety of persons at the aerodrome, shall be guilty of an offence. (2) Subject to subsection (4), a person who by means of any device, substance or weapon unlawfully and intentionally — (a) destroys or seriously damages — (i) property used for the provision of any facilities at an aerodrome serving international civil aviation (including any apparatus or equipment so used); or (ii) any aircraft which is at such an aerodrome but is not in service; or (b) disrupts the services of such an aerodrome, in such a way as to endanger or be likely to endanger the safe operation of the aerodrome or the safety of persons at the aerodrome, shall be guilty of an offence. (3) Except as provided in subsection (4), subsections (1) and (2) apply whether any act mentioned in those subsections is committed in Singapore or elsewhere and whatever the nationality of the person committing the act. (4) Subsection (2)(a)(ii) does not apply to any act committed in relation to an aircraft used in military, customs or police service unless — (a) the act is committed in Singapore; [Act 10 of 2022 wef 01/09/2022] (b) where the act is committed outside Singapore, the person committing the act is a citizen of Singapore; or [Act 10 of 2022 wef 01/09/2022] (c) the aircraft is used in the military, customs or police service of the Republic of Singapore. [Act 10 of 2022 wef 01/09/2022] Threats to commit offences and screening offenders 8.—(1) A person who — (a) makes a threat to commit any offence under section 3, 5(1) or (2), 5A(1), 5B(1), 5C(1), 6(1) or 7(1) or (2); or (b) unlawfully and intentionally causes any person to receive such a threat, under circumstances which indicate the threat to be credible, shall be guilty of an offence. (2) A person who unlawfully and intentionally assists any other person to evade investigation, prosecution or punishment, knowing that the other person — (a) has committed an act that constitutes — (i) an offence under subsection (1), or section 3, 5(1) or (2), 5A(1), 5B(1), 5C(1), 5D(1), 6(1) or (3) or 7(1) or (2); or (ii) an abetment of, or an attempt or a conspiracy to commit, an offence mentioned in sub-paragraph (i); or (b) is wanted for any criminal prosecution, or is sentenced, in relation to any act mentioned in paragraph (a) that is committed by the other person, shall be guilty of an offence. (3) Subsections (1) and (2) apply whether any act mentioned in those subsections is committed in Singapore or elsewhere and whatever the nationality or citizenship of the person committing the act. [Act 10 of 2022 wef 01/09/2022] Penalties 9.—(1) A person guilty of an offence under this Act (other than an offence under section 8(1) or (2)) shall be liable on conviction — (a) in the case of an individual, to imprisonment for life; or (b) in any other case, to a fine not exceeding $1 million. (2) A person guilty of an offence under section 8(1) shall be liable on conviction — (a) in the case of an individual, to a fine not exceeding $500,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years or to both; or (b) in any other case, to a fine not exceeding $1 million. (3) A person guilty of an offence under section 8(2) shall be liable on conviction — (a) in the case of an individual, to a fine not exceeding $500,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years or to both; or (b) in any other case, to a fine not exceeding $1 million. [Act 10 of 2022 wef 01/09/2022] Offences by corporations 9A.—(1) Where, in a proceeding for an offence under this Act, it is necessary to prove the state of mind of a corporation in relation to a particular conduct, evidence that — (a) an officer, employee or agent of the corporation engaged in that conduct within the scope of his or her actual or apparent authority; and (b) the officer, employee or agent had that state of mind, is evidence that the corporation had that state of mind. (2) Where a corporation commits an offence under this Act, a person — (a) who is — (i) an officer of the corporation; or (ii) an individual involved in the management of the corporation and in a position to influence the conduct of the corporation in relation to the commission of the offence; and (b) who — (i) consented or connived, or conspired with others, to effect the commission of the offence; (ii) is in any other way, whether by act or omission, knowingly concerned in, or is party to, the commission of the offence by the corporation; or (iii) knew or ought reasonably to have known that the offence by the corporation (or an offence of the same type) would be or is being committed, and failed to take all reasonable steps to prevent or stop the commission of that offence, shall be guilty of that same offence as is the corporation, and shall be liable on conviction to be punished accordingly. (3) A person mentioned in subsection (2) may rely on a defence that would be available to the corporation if it were charged with the offence with which the person is charged and, in doing so, the person bears the same burden of proof that the corporation would bear. (4) To avoid doubt, this section does not affect the application of — (a) Chapters 5 and 5A of the Penal Code 1871; or (b) the Evidence Act 1893 or any other law or practice regarding the admissibility of evidence. (5) To avoid doubt, subsection (2) also does not affect the liability of the corporation for an offence under this Act, and applies whether or not the corporation is convicted of the offence. (6) In this section — “corporation” includes a limited liability partnership within the meaning of section 2(1) of the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2005; “officer”, in relation to a corporation, means any director, partner, chief executive, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the corporation, and includes — (a) any person purporting to act in any such capacity; and (b) for a corporation whose affairs are managed by its members, any of those members as if the member were a director of the corporation; “state of mind” of a person includes — (a) the knowledge, intention, opinion, belief or purpose of the person; and (b) the person’s reasons for the intention, opinion, belief or purpose. [Act 10 of 2022 wef 01/09/2022] Offences by unincorporated associations or partnerships 9B.—(1) Where, in a proceeding for an offence under this Act, it is necessary to prove the state of mind of an unincorporated association or a partnership in relation to a particular conduct, evidence that — (a) an employee or agent of the unincorporated association or partnership engaged in that conduct within the scope of his or her actual or apparent authority; and (b) the employee or agent had that state of mind, is evidence that the unincorporated association or partnership had that state of mind. (2) Where an unincorporated association or a partnership commits an offence under this Act, a person — (a) who is — (i) an officer of the unincorporated association or a member of its governing body; (ii) a partner in the partnership; or (iii) an individual involved in the management of the unincorporated association or partnership and in a position to influence the conduct of the unincorporated association or partnership (as the case may be) in relation to the commission of the offence; and (b) who — (i) consented or connived, or conspired with others, to effect the commission of the offence; (ii) is in any other way, whether by act or omission, knowingly concerned in, or is party to, the commission of the offence by the unincorporated association or partnership; or (iii) knew or ought reasonably to have known that the offence by the unincorporated association or partnership (or an offence of the same type) would be or is being committed, and failed to take all reasonable steps to prevent or stop the commission of that offence, shall be guilty of the same offence as is the unincorporated association or partnership (as the case may be), and shall be liable on conviction to be punished accordingly. (3) A person mentioned in subsection (2) may rely on a defence that would be available to the unincorporated association or partnership if it were charged with the offence with which the person is charged and, in doing so, the person bears the same burden of proof that the unincorporated association or partnership would bear. (4) To avoid doubt, this section does not affect the application of — (a) Chapters 5 and 5A of the Penal Code 1871; or (b) the Evidence Act 1893 or any other law or practice regarding the admissibility of evidence. (5) To avoid doubt, subsection (2) also does not affect the liability of an unincorporated association or a partnership for an offence under this Act, and applies whether or not the unincorporated association or partnership is convicted of the offence. (6) In this section — “officer”, in relation to an unincorporated association (other than a partnership), means the president, the secretary or any member of the committee of the unincorporated association, and includes — (a) any person holding a position analogous to that of president, secretary or member of a committee of the unincorporated association; and (b) any person purporting to act in any such capacity; “partner” includes a person purporting to act as a partner; “state of mind” of a person includes — (a) the knowledge, intention, opinion, belief or purpose of the person; and (b) the person’s reasons for the intention, opinion, belief or purpose. [Act 10 of 2022 wef 01/09/2022] Consent for prosecution 10.—(1) No prosecution shall be instituted under this Act without the written consent of the Public Prosecutor. (2) Even though a consent has not been given in relation to the offence in accordance with subsection (1) — (a) a person may be arrested for an offence under this Act; (b) a warrant for the arrest of any person in respect of any offence under this Act may be issued and executed; (c) a person may be charged with an offence under this Act; and (d) a person charged with any offence under this Act may be remanded in custody or granted bail, but no further steps in the proceedings in relation to the offence are to be taken until the consent of the Public Prosecutor has been obtained. Extradition 11.—(1) Every relevant offence is deemed to be an extradition offence under the Extradition Act 1968. [Act 17 of 2022 wef 01/09/2022] (2) Where no extradition treaty is in force between Singapore and a State which is a party to the Convention — (a) a notification in the Gazette under section 4 of the Extradition Act 1968 may be made applying that Act as if the Convention were an extradition treaty between Singapore and that State; and (b) the Extradition Act 1968 so applied has effect as if the only extradition offences within the meaning of that Act were relevant offences. [Act 17 of 2022 wef 01/09/2022] (3) Subsection (2) does not affect any other notification made under section 4 of the Extradition Act 1968. (4) For the purposes of the Extradition Act 1968, any act, wherever committed, which — (a) is a relevant offence, or would be such an offence but for section 3(2), 5(5), 5A(3), 5B(3), 5C(3), 5D(3) or (4), 6(6) or 7(4); and (b) is an offence against the law of any State in the case of which the Extradition Act 1968 has been applied by a notification in the Gazette made under section 4 of that Act, is deemed to be an offence within the jurisdiction of that State. (5) For the purposes of the Extradition Act 1968, any relevant offence is deemed not to be an offence of a political character. (6) In this section and section 12 — “relevant offence” means — (a) an offence under this Act (other than section 9A(2) or 9B(2)); or (b) an abetment of, or an attempt to commit, an offence under this Act (other than section 9A(2) or 9B(2)); “the Convention” means — (a) the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft signed at The Hague on 16 December 1970; (b) the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Civil Aviation signed at Montreal on 23 September 1971; (c) the Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts of Violence at Airports Serving International Civil Aviation signed at Montreal on 24 February 1988; (d) the Convention on the Suppression of Unlawful Acts relating to International Civil Aviation signed at Beijing on 10 September 2010; or (e) the Protocol Supplementary to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft signed at Beijing on 10 September 2010. [Act 10 of 2022 wef 01/09/2022] Assistance under Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 2000 12.—(1) For the purposes of the provision of assistance under Part 3 of the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 2000 to any State which is a party to the Convention for a criminal matter involving a specified offence of that State, the specified offence is deemed not to be an offence of a political character. (2) In this section — “criminal matter” has the meaning given by section 2(1) of the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 2000; “specified offence”, in relation to a State which is a party to the Convention, means an offence against the law of that State that consists of or includes conduct which, if the conduct occurred in Singapore — (a) would constitute a relevant offence; or (b) would be such an offence but for section 3(2), 5(5), 5A(3), 5B(3), 5C(3), 5D(3) or (4), 6(6) or 7(4). [Act 10 of 2022 wef 01/09/2022]