Singapore’s parliament on Tuesday passed a law that introduced caning as a punishment for scammers and money mules, as the country battles a scourge of fraud cases.
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Under the Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill, scammers as well as members and recruiters of scam syndicates will be punished with six to 24 strokes of the cane.
The harsher penalties aim to enhance deterrence against scams, which are the most prevalent form of crime in Singapore, according to Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs Sim Ann.
Sim, who presented the bill, said scam syndicates had the “highest level of culpability” and used significant resources to conduct and profit from scams.
Legal experts told This Week in Asia the move marked the moral severity of the crime and would serve as a strong deterrent.
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Other offences in Singapore which carry the penalty of caning include rape, which warrants at least 12 strokes, drug trafficking and illegal moneylending. In a single trial, the court can impose a maximum of 24 strokes of the cane.
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 that the court will decide whether to enact the punishment during sentencing.