Subordinate courts in Singapore will launch a trial of video conferencing by using the third generation (3G) mobile technology in July, according to Channel NewsAsia report Monday night.

An initiative in the on-going process of building a virtual court, video conferencing will allow lawyers and public prosecutors to communicate with the courts on the move instead of going to a static location.

The courts will decide whether to implement it or not after the six-month trial, the report said.

Meanwhile, the courts stressed that it is important for people to see the face of the judge when it comes to major or severe offenses.

Currently, Singaporeans can plead guilty to minor traffic and parking offenses at the Automated Traffic Offense Management System (ATOMS) kiosks islandwide and the Subordinate courts will offer this online service at its website by the end of this year.

Other initiatives include integrating the case management systems from the ministries with the courts' database to facilitate information exchange.