People - Johannes Hadi

Johannes Hadi (洪嘉骏)

Director

Languages – English | Mandarin | Bahasa Indonesia

Practice Areas

Johannes is described by clients as “persuasive” and “well-prepared”.

As a disputes specialist, he has acted at every level of the Singapore courts, including securing landmark appellate rulings before the Court of Appeal, high-profile acquittals at first instance, and major commercial wins such as a full S$1.5 million judgment in litigation tied to the GoTo Group IPO as lead counsel.

His forte is in criminal litigation and contentious investigations, and he has deep experience defending cases of complex fraud, public and private sector corruption, money-laundering, market manipulation, murder, sex crimes, and drug trafficking. He is also instructed in commercial litigation involving allegations of fraud, breach of director’s duties and other corporate misconduct.

He was educated at University College London (UCL) and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). He has taught advocacy at the National University of Singapore and is frequently invited by Pro Bono SG to train fellow criminal practitioners.

Achievements

  • Investments: Acted as lead counsel for a private investor in a High Court investment dispute arising from the public listing of GoTo Group, a merger between Indonesian ride- hailing giant Gojek and e-commerce company Tokopedia, and successfully obtained judgment against the defendant company for the entire claim of S$1.5 million.

  • White-Collar Crime: Acted as lead counsel for a Thai national in Singapore criminal proceedings involving allegations of international trade fraud with sums in dispute exceeding S$30 million.

  • Murder: Acted as lead counsel for a PRC national who was charged with attempted murder after his involvement in the Beach Road chopper attack, and successfully defended against the Prosecution’s submission for life imprisonment.

Mission

Johannes believes in access to justice and the rule of law. He is one of the youngest counsel appointed by the Supreme Court as lead counsel in the Legal Assistance Scheme for Capital Offences, where he defends indigent persons accused of capital crimes pro bono. He also takes a special interest in constitutional law and fundamental liberties, and has been involved in public interest litigation on the decriminalization of gay sex, the death penalty, and freedom of expression.

Accolades

  • The Legal 500 – Recommended Lawyer (White Collar Crime: Local)

  • Doyle’s Guide – Recommended Lawyer (Criminal Defence)

Awards - Legal500 - Recommended Lawyer
Awards - Doyles - Recommended Criminal Law