{{Short description|Singaporean judge and lawyer}} {{use dmy dates|date=November 2022}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Hri Kumar Nair | native_name = {{nobold|{{lang|ml|ഹരി കുമാർ നായർ}}}} | native_name_lang = ml | honorific_suffix = {{postnominals|list=SC}} | image = Hri Kumar Nair, 2011 (cropped).jpg | caption = Nair in 2011 | cabinet = | committees = | office = Justice of the Court of Appeal of Singapore | term_start = 1 October 2025 | appointer = Tharman Shanmugaratnam | office1 = Judge of the High Court of Singapore | term_start1 = 2 January 2023 | term_end1 = 1 October 2025 | appointer1 = Halimah Yacob | office2 = Deputy Attorney-General of Singapore | alongside2 = Lionel Yee (Jan. 2017 - Jan. 2023) <br> Tai Wei Shyong (Jan. 2021 - Jan 2023) <br> Ang Cheng Hock (Oct. 2022 - Jan 2023) | term_start2 = 1 March 2017 | term_end2 = 2 January 2023 | appointer2 = Tony Tan | constituency_MP3 = Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC | term_start3 = 7 May 2006 | term_end3 = 11 September 2015 | predecessor3 = PAP held | successor3 = PAP held | majority3 = {{plainlist| * 2006: * 2011: }} | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1966|06|16|df=yes}} | birth_place = Singapore | alma_mater = National University of Singapore (LLB) | party = People's Action Party (2006–2015) }} '''Hri Kumar Nair'''{{efn|{{langx|ml|ഹരി കുമാർ നായർ|translit=Hari Kumāṟ Nāyar̠}}}} {{postnominals|list=SC}} (born 16 June 1966) is a Singaporean lawyer and former politician who has been serving as a Judge of the High Court of Singapore since 2023. A former member of the People's Action Party, he was the Member of Parliament representing the Thomson division of Bishan–Toa Payoh Group Representation Constituency between 2006 and 2015. He was also a former Deputy Attorney-General of Singapore between 2017 and 2023.
==Education== Nair attended National Junior College before graduating from the National University of Singapore in 1991 with a Bachelor of Laws degree.<ref name=":0">{{cite web | url=http://www.drewnapier.com/DrewASPX/media/assets/CV/Hri-Kumar-Nair-SC-CV_070217.pdf | title=Hri Kumar Nair, SC | publisher=Drew & Napier}}</ref>
==Legal career== Nair was called to the Singapore Bar in 1992.<ref name=":0" /> He joined Drew & Napier and became a director of the firm.<ref name=":0" /> He was appointed senior counsel in 2008.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/320872/1/.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080106221623/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/320872/1/.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=6 January 2008 | title=Six appointed Senior Counsel at opening of Legal Year 2008 | website=Channel NewsAsia }}</ref>
Nair was appointed as the deputy attorney-general (DAG) for a three-year term starting on 1 March 2017, followed by another three-year term commencing on 1 March 2020.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/three-new-high-court-appointments-and-new-deputy-attorney-general-pmo|title=3 new High Court appointments and new deputy Attorney-General: PMO|work=The Straits Times|date=2017-02-16}}</ref> He has since resigned as a member of the People's Action Party as well as the director of Drew & Napier.<ref name=":1">{{cite news|url=http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/incoming-deputy-attorney-general-hri-kumar-no-longer-party-member-pap|title=Incoming Deputy Attorney-General Hri Kumar no longer a party member: PAP|last=Ng|first=Kelly|date=17 February 2017|work=Today|location=Singapore}}</ref> He was the first ex-lawmaker in Singapore to take on the role of a public prosecutor.<ref name=":1" />
Nair was involved with several high profile cases during his term as DAG, including the appeal of the City Harvest Church trial<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/city-harvest-case-kong-hee-with-white-hair-and-short-crew-cut-in-good-spirits|title=City Harvest case: Kong Hee, with white hair and crew cut, in good spirits as criminal reference hearing begins|author=Ng Huiwen|date=2017-08-01|work=The Straits Times|access-date=2017-09-11}}</ref> and Tan Cheng Bock's constitutional challenge to the elected presidency in 2017. Nair, in his capacity as the DAG representing the government, was criticised by Tan for his comments in the High Court.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/tan-cheng-bock-hits-out-hri-kumar-highly-inflammatory-comments-over-ep-challenge|title=Tan Cheng Bock hits out at Hri Kumar for 'highly inflammatory' comments over EP challenge|work=Today|access-date=2017-09-11}}</ref> Nair was quoted to have said that Tan's motives "are purely selfish and he has shown no regard for the principle of multiracial representation which Parliament intended to safeguard".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://sg.news.yahoo.com/deputy-attorney-general-hri-kumars-comments-highly-inflammatory-tan-cheng-bock-045218572.html|title=Deputy Attorney-General Hri Kumar's comments 'highly inflammatory': Tan Cheng Bock|date=July 8, 2017|work=Yahoo! News Singapore|access-date=2017-09-11}}</ref>
In November 2017, Nair appeared before the Court of Appeal to argue against the acquittal of Mohd Ariffan Mohd Hassan, who was accused of raping his lover's daughter. The court upheld Mohd Hassan's acquittal and dismissed the appeal, issuing a landmark judgment setting out the criteria for bringing in fresh evidence applying to the prosecution.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/apex-court-upholds-acquittal-man-accused-sexually-assaulting-raping-lovers-teen-daughter|title=Apex court upholds acquittal of man accused of sexually assaulting, raping lover's teen daughter|website=Today|access-date=2020-03-05}}</ref> In June 2018, Nair successfully argued the prosecution's appeal for the death penalty to be imposed on Chia Kee Chen, who murdered his wife's ex-lover Dexmon Chua.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.supremecourt.gov.sg/docs/default-source/module-document/judgement/judgment-for-cca-40-of-2017-(final)-pdf.pdf|title=IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE - [2018] SGCA 30}}<br>- {{Cite web|url=https://tnp.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/man-hang-brutal-murder-wifes-ex-lover|title=Man to hang for 'brutal' murder of wife's ex-lover|last=Lum|first=Selina|date=2018-06-28|website=The New Paper|access-date=2020-03-05}}</ref> In 2019, Nair led the prosecution team during the trial of Leslie Khoo Kwee Hock, who strangled his girlfriend Cui Yajie near Gardens by the Bay and burned her body in what was known as the "Gardens by the Bay murder" case.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/gardens-by-the-bay-murder-accused-says-he-had-many-girlfriends-11358954|title=Gardens by the Bay murder: Accused says he had many girlfriends, but victim not one of them|website=CNA|access-date=2020-03-05}}</ref> Khoo was subsequently convicted of murder in July 2019, and the prosecution argued for him to be sentenced to life imprisonment, on the account that his actions did not warrant capital punishment since he did not exhibit any viciousness or blatant disregard for human life. The judge agreed, and imposed a life sentence on 19 August 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lum|first=Selina|date=19 August 2019|title=Gardens by the Bay murder trial: Leslie Khoo sentenced to life imprisonment for killing lover, burning her body|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/gardens-by-the-bay-murder-leslie-khoo-sentenced-to-life-imprisonment|access-date=11 July 2020|website=The Straits Times}}<br>- {{Cite web|title=Public Prosecutor v Khoo Kwee Hock Leslie|url=https://www.supremecourt.gov.sg/docs/default-source/module-document/judgement/cc-7-of-2019-(gd)(final)-pdf.pdf|access-date=1 July 2020|website=Supreme Court Judgements}}</ref> Khoo appealed against his conviction and sentence, but later withdrew it.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lam|first=Lydia|date=24 September 2019|title=Gardens by the Bay murderer to appeal against conviction, life imprisonment sentence|url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/gardens-by-the-bay-murder-leslie-khoo-appeal-conviction-11937466|access-date=11 July 2020|website=Channel NewsAsia}}</ref> Nair also acted for the prosecution in the appeal hearing of Roshdi Abdullah Altway, a drug trafficker who was sentenced to death in 2020 despite his defence of safekeeping the drugs and not for the purpose of trafficking. Roshdi was previously sentenced to hang in 1994 for murdering a Central Narcotics Bureau inspector before he escaped the gallows and re-sentenced to ten years' jail upon an appeal.<ref>{{cite web|title=Roshdi bin Abdullah Altway v Public Prosecutor [2021] SGCA 103 |url=https://www.elitigation.sg/gd/s/2021_SGCA_103 |website=Supreme Court judgements |date=11 November 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Man who escaped gallows in 1994 for killing CNB officer to hang for heroin trafficking |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/man-who-escaped-gallows-in-1994-for-killing-cnb-officer-to-hang-for-heroin |website=The Straits Times |date=3 November 2020}}</ref> Roshdi was eventually hanged on 10 April 2025 after losing his appeals.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnb.gov.sg/NewsAndEvents/News/Index/execution-of-a-convicted-drug-trafficker---10-april-2025|title=Execution of a Convicted Drug Trafficker - 10 April 2025|date=10 April 2025|work=Central Narcotics Bureau}}</ref>
In September 2020, Nair was appointed to conduct a prosecutorial review for a wrongful conviction case<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/the-curious-case-of-the-maid-the-business-tycoon-and-the-pink-knife|title = The curious case of the maid, the business tycoon and the pink knife |work=The Straits Times|date = 13 September 2020}}</ref> of a domestic worker, Parti Liyani, who was wrongfully accused of theft.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/attorney-general-lucien-wong-not-involved-prosecution-review-case-cag-chairmans-former|title=Attorney-General Lucien Wong not involved in prosecution, review of case of CAG chairman's former maid: AGC|work=Today|author=Wong Pei Ting|date=9 September 2020|accessdate=19 November 2022}}<br>- {{Cite news |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/a-g-not-involved-in-ex-maids-case-recuses-himself-from-review |title=A-G not involved in ex-maid's case, recuses himself from review |work=The Straits Times |author=Jessie Lim |date=10 September 2020 }}<br>- {{Cite web|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/ag-lucien-wong-not-involved-in-ex-maid-parti-liyanis-case-has-recused-himself|title=A-G Lucien Wong not involved in ex-maid Parti Liyani's case, has recused himself from review which deputy A-G Hri Kumar will lead: AGC|date=9 September 2020}}<br>- {{Cite news|url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/parti-liyani-maid-liew-mun-leong-attorney-general-lucien-wong-13094526|title=Parti Liyani's case: Attorney-General Lucien Wong not involved in prosecution; review led by Hri Kumar, says AGC|website=Channel News Asia|date=9 September 2020|accessdate=19 November 2022|archive-date=26 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326201123/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/parti-liyani-maid-liew-mun-leong-attorney-general-lucien-wong-13094526/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Nair begun serving as a Judge in the High Court from January 2, 2023, following his appointment by President Halimah Yacob<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 September 2022 |title=New deputy attorney-general appointed; Hri Kumar to become High Court judge |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/attorney-general-court-judge-hri-kumar-2965381 |website=Today|access-date=25 October 2022 }}</ref>
==Political career== From 2006 to 2015, Nair was a member of parliament for Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC, holding the Thomson–Toa Payoh ward. He was once an advisor to the Bishan–Toa Payoh grassroots organisations.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/politics/hri-kumar-nair-my-wifes-illness-made-me-refocus-my-priorities|title=Hri Kumar Nair: My wife's illness made me refocus my priorities|last=Yong|first=Charissa|date=2015-08-12|work=The Straits Times|access-date=2017-09-11 }}</ref> He was appointed chairman of the Bishan–Toa Payoh Town Council from 2011 to 2015. He was succeeded by Chong Kee Hiong and the head of the Government Parliamentary Committees for Home Affairs and Law.<ref name=":1" />
In May 2009, Nair proposed during a Parliamentary debate that the government can appoint a Cabinet Minister from the pool of Nominated Members of Parliament to draw on the experience of many capable Singaporeans. He expressed the view that this would not offend democratic principles. Singapore's Parliamentary system placed more weight on the party in power rather than individual MPs, and "Parliamentarians must still win the support from the ground and, ultimately, the PM and the ruling party and his Cabinet team will still be answerable to the electorate at elections."<ref>Speech of MP Hri Kumar Nair on the President's Address, ''Singapore Parliamentary Debates, Official Report'' (26 May 2009), vol. 86 (no column numbers assigned yet).</ref> Critics have commented that adopting the practice would disenchant Singaporeans, deepen the already parochial political culture, and lead to a lack of accountability and legitimacy.<ref>{{citation |author=Jeremy Au Yong |title=Nominated ministers: Good or bad idea? |date=13 June 2009 |newspaper=The Straits Times |page=A32 |author2=Zakir Hussain}}.</ref>
Nair has spoken out in favour of the repeal of Section 377A of the Penal Code in Singapore, which criminalises homosexual sex.<ref>{{cite news|title=Raise level of debate on sexuality issues: MP Nair|url=http://www.asiaone.com/health/raise-level-debate-sexuality-issues-mp-nair|access-date=11 September 2017|publisher=The Straits Times|date=February 18, 2014}}</ref> He is known for criticising the opposition for not taking a stand on contentious issues<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/hri-kumar-hits-out-wp-again-sitting-fence|title=Hri Kumar hits out at WP again for sitting on the fence|work=Today|access-date=2017-09-11 }}</ref> and for his criticisms of the Worker's Party's management of the Aljunied–Hougang Town Council.<ref>{{Cite news|date=20 August 2015|title=Why the silence on basic questions about AHPETC accounts? Hri Kumar asks |work=Channel NewsAsia|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/why-the-silence-on-basic-questions-about-ahpetc-accounts-hri-kum-8224174|url-status=dead|access-date=2017-09-11|archive-date=2017-09-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911161840/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/why-the-silence-on-basic-questions-about-ahpetc-accounts-hri-kum-8224174}}</ref>
Nair retired from politics before the 2015 Singaporean general election, citing his wife’s diagnosis of lymphoma in 2012 as a factor.<ref name=":2" />
==Directorships== Nair has held several directorships.<ref name=":0" /> * People’s Association Board of Management (1 January 2007 – 31 May 2011) * Bishan EC Pte Ltd (11 September 2008 – 21 February 2012) * Riviera Properties Pte. Ltd. (23 August 2006 – 13 September 2012) * NTUC Choice Homes Co-Operative Ltd (23 August 2006 – 13 September 2012) * Media Development Authority of Singapore (1 January 2007 – 31 December 2012) * NTUC Foodfare Co-operative Ltd (21 September 2012 – 25 May 2015) * NTUC Income (3 September 2015 – 2017)
==Personal life== Nair is the youngest of nine children in his family. His first name is pronounced and was originally intended to be spelt as "Hari"; the current spelling is a result of a typing error in the original copy of his birth certificate that was never rectified.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20101217-253270.html|title=How Hari became Hri|last=Jonas|first=Patrick|date=2010-12-17|work=AsiaOne|access-date=2020-09-12 }}</ref> His wife is a partner of Ernst & Young.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/dilys-boey | title=LinkedIn | website=LinkedIn}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=November 2022}} His only child, a daughter, was born in 2006 or 2007.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/politics/hri-kumar-nair-my-wifes-illness-made-me-refocus-my-priorities|title=Hri Kumar Nair: My wife's illness made me refocus my priorities|date=12 August 2015|website=The Straits Times|access-date=9 January 2021}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20170415010014/https://www.agc.gov.sg/Who_We_Are/Leadership/Management_profile.aspx Hri Kumar Nair's CV] on the Attorney-General's Chambers website
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Nair, Hri Kumar}} Category:21st-century Singaporean lawyers Category:Singaporean people of Indian descent Category:Singaporean legal officers Category:Singaporean Senior Counsel Category:Members of the Parliament of Singapore Category:People's Action Party politicians Category:National University of Singapore alumni Category:National Junior College alumni Category:Singaporean Hindus Category:Singaporean people of Malayali descent Category:Living people Category:1966 births Category:Singaporean politicians of Indian descent