SINGAPORE: Caning could be implemented as punishment for scams and scam-related offences under proposed changes to Singapore’s criminal law.
“Fighting scams continues to be a top national priority. The number of scam cases and scam losses remain concerning,” said the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday (Oct 14) as it introduced a Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill.
Under the proposed changes, scammers and members and recruiters of scam syndicates will also face mandatory caning, of between six and 24 strokes.
Mules who help launder scam proceeds or provide SIM cards and Singpass credentials will face discretionary caning of up to 12 strokes.
In such cases, discretionary caning will generally be a sentencing option if the offender was aware that the enabling tool would be used to commit or facilitate the commission of a scam; or was actually used in a scam, and the offender failed to take reasonable steps to ensure that it would not be used in such a manner.
Caning as a measure against scammers was first raised as a possibility earlier this year, during a debate on MHA’s budget.
Then-Minister of State for Home Affairs and Social and Family Development Sun Xueling had said that Singapore would consider caning scammers in certain cases in recognition of the serious harm they cause.
