Singapore to consider caning as punishment for serious scam offences

Singapore will consider caning as punishment for serious scam-related offences as it steps up enforcement action following record losses.

“We will consider … caning to be prescribed for certain scam-related offences, recognising the serious harm they can cause,” Minister of State for Home Affairs Sun Xueling said during a parliamentary debate on Tuesday.

Sun was responding to Member of Parliament Tan Wu Meng’s question on whether caning should be legislated for serious scam-related offences.

Tan had earlier called for mandatory caning for scammers in serious cases, according to local media outlet CNA.

“We must send a clear message to scammers, the syndicates and those who abet them: If you mess with our people, make off with the life savings of Singaporeans, scam Singaporeans, we must do everything in our power to teach the scammers a lesson they won’t forget,” he said.

Sun also noted on Tuesday that jail terms had been imposed for offences which facilitated scams, following the recent introduction of new guidelines by a sentencing advisory panel, with one case going as high as 19 months.