Haneef has an active practice in criminal defence (investigations and litigation), civil litigation and international arbitration. Haneef has been involved in matters heard at the District Court, the General Division of the High Court, the Appellate Division of the High Court, and the Court of Appeal.
In respect of his criminal defence practice, Haneef has defended clients in a wide variety of matters including white-collar offences such as corruption, tax offences, money laundering, falsification of accounts and cheating. Haneef acted for a client who faced 77 charges under the Goods and Services Tax Act 1993 and after a multi-year engagement with the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore, managed to secure for the client a non-custodial sentence (see https://www.iras.gov.sg/who-we-are/what-we-do/annual-reports-and-publications/taxbytes-iras/tax-fraud/lee-thiam-huat-(gst-offences)). Haneef also acted for the former Divisional President of Mainboard-listed Trek 2000 International Limited, the inventor of the Thumbdrive, who faced three charges for cheating and falsification of accounts (see https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/ex-president-spore-thumbdrive-inventor-trek-2000-jailed-2-months-role-falsifying-firms-financial-accounts-2166296)). As for corruption, Haneef is acting for an accused person facing charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1960, for allegedly having bribed senior management of one of the largest Japanese civil engineering and construction company in Singapore, in respect of a SGD1 billion contract for the land preparation works for the Changi East Development.
Haneef’s criminal defence practice also includes defending accused persons charged with hurt offences, sexual offences, drugs offences and offences under the Official Secrets Act 1935. Haneef’s work has been documented in the media, including:-
- Representing an accused person facing two charges of aggravated sexual assault and five charges of aggravated outrage of modesty (see https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/man-sexual-assault-9-year-old-girl-daughter-friend-high-court-trial-2565131).
- Representing an accused person facing seven charges of ill-treating her children from 2019 to 2021, and was successful in obtaining the sentence sought for by the Defence (see Public Prosecutor v GEC [2021] SGDC 236; 3 years’ jail for mother who abused her daughters for over 2 years, broke child’s teeth – TODAY).
- Representing an accused person facing multiple charges for committing serious sexual offences under the Penal Code 1871 (see https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/man-gets-12-years-jail-sexual-offence-against-11-year-old-granddaughter-after-wifes-birthday-celebration-2208051).
- Representing an accused person who faced charges for causing hurt by riding his personal mobility device in a rash manner (see https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/e-bike-rider-accidents-pang-sua-park-connector-injuries-jail-4595751).
- Representing an accused person charged with allegedly causing hurt by use of a dangerous weapon (see https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/actor-ryan-lian-slash-suspect-aaron-samuel-yukon-4777231).
In addition to his criminal defence practice, Haneef also has an active practice in the civil litigation sphere, acting for clients embroiled in commercial disputes, and also has appeared as counsel in international arbitration at the Singapore International Arbitration Centre. Haneef also practices Syariah law.
Haneef is an ardent proponent of access to justice and takes on pro bono matters. He regularly represents clients from the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme, Legal Aid applicants, and prior to being called to the Bar, Haneef was deeply involved in legal aid work, working as a paralegal in the Crime Department of the Legal Aid Bureau in Sydney, Australia.