Singapore’s parliament passed a significant new law on Tuesday, introducing caning as a physical punishment for individuals convicted of scamming and serving as money mules, as the country grapples with a major surge in fraud cases.
Under the new Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill, scammers, as well as members and recruiters of scam syndicates, will face severe penalties ranging from six to 24 strokes of the cane.
Enhanced Deterrence for Scams
The harsher penalties are designed to enhance deterrence against scams, which Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs Sim Ann confirmed is the most prevalent form of crime in Singapore.
Sim, who presented the bill, emphasized that scam syndicates bear the “highest level of culpability” due to the significant resources they use to conduct and profit from scams.
- Caning for Enablers: Offenders found guilty of knowingly facilitating scams by handing over their bank accounts or other relevant details to syndicates will also face discretionary caning of up to 12 strokes. This means the court will decide whether to impose the punishment during sentencing.
“Crippling the supply of scam enablers would significantly increase the difficulty for scammers to successfully conduct or profit from scams,” Sim said.
Legal experts told This Week in Asia that the move underscores the moral severity of the crime and is expected to serve as a strong deterrent.
Scourge of Fraud Cases
Scams constituted 60 per cent of all reported crimes in Singapore, Sim revealed, with 190,000 cases lodged between 2020 and the first half of this year. The cumulative financial loss due to these scams has reached approximately S$3.7 billion (US$2.8 billion).
Caning is reserved for serious offences in Singapore, with crimes like rape (warranting at least 12 strokes), drug trafficking, and illegal moneylending also carrying the penalty. In a single trial, the court can impose a maximum of 24 strokes of the cane.
The prospect of introducing caning for scammers was first brought up by former People’s Action Party (PAP) member of parliament Tan Wu Meng in March, who questioned if the state was being too soft on financial criminals.
Source: This Week in Asia
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