SINGAPORE: Singapore remains open to considering chemical castration as a measure to tackle sex crimes if there is clear evidence that it is effective in reducing crime, Senior Minister K Shanmugam said on Tuesday (Sep 8).
However, the evidence so far is inconclusive, he said in a written parliamentary reply.
“We remain open to considering measures including pharmacological anti-androgen treatments, also known as chemical castrations, if it is clear that such measures are effective in bringing down crime rates. So far, the evidence is not conclusive on that,” said Mr Shanmugam.
Mr Shanmugam, who is also the Home Affairs Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security, was responding to a question from MP Gerald Giam (WP-Aljunied) on whether the Ministry of Home Affairs had evaluated such treatments or a sex offender register as additional measures to deter crime and reduce reoffending.
Mr Giam also asked whether statutory penalties for major sexual offences against children and young people would be reviewed in light of recent increases in reported cases.
In response, Mr Shanmugam said that the government takes a serious view of sexual crimes and imposes stiff penalties, particularly when the victims are minors.
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