As reported in The Straits Times (15 Oct 2025)
Singapore is set to impose caning as a punishment for scammers and scam syndicate members, under the newly proposed Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill, introduced in Parliament on October 14, 2025.
The proposed laws mark a significant escalation in Singapore’s war on scams, which have cost victims over S$3.4 billion since 2019, including S$1.1 billion in 2024 alone.
Under the Bill, scammers and recruiters of scam syndicates will face mandatory caning of at least six strokes, with the maximum rising to 24 strokes depending on the severity of the offence.
Meanwhile, “scam mules”—individuals who aid scam operations by selling or providing their Singpass credentials, SIM cards, or bank accounts—could receive discretionary caning of up to 12 strokes, at the discretion of the court.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said these measures reflect Singapore’s determination to deter organised fraud and financial crime, which remain major national concerns.
Broader Legal Reforms Beyond Scams
The wide-ranging Bill also proposes new and updated penalties across several areas of criminal law, including sexual offences, abuse of vulnerable victims, doxxing, and youth offender sentencing.
Key highlights include:
- Sexual offences: The Bill clarifies that consensual sexting between adults will not be criminalised, while expanding protection for minors by raising the age threshold from 16 to 18. It also extends criminal liability to AI-generated pornographic material and introduces a new offence for the non-consensual production of intimate images.
- Online obscenity and sextortion: Those who circulate obscene material to 10 or more persons—especially via online platforms—could face up to four years’ jail if minors are depicted.
- Sexual grooming: Offenders who travel abroad with victims for illicit sexual acts will now be prosecutable in Singapore, mirroring the extraterritorial reach of drug laws. Maximum jail terms will rise to seven years if the victim is under 14.
- Abuse of vulnerable victims: The maximum sentence for fatal abuse will increase from 20 years to life imprisonment or up to 30 years’ jail.
- Doxxing of public servants: Publishing a public servant’s personal information with intent to harass—or alongside falsehoods—will be punishable by up to three years’ jail and a S$10,000 fine.
- Youth offenders: The Bill ensures that 16- and 17-year-olds may receive deterrent sentences such as imprisonment or caning when tried in the State Courts or High Court.
Review of Caning and Outdated Offences
Currently, 161 offences in Singapore’s laws attract caning, of which 65 are mandatory. The MHA said it has completed a review of these offences, proposing to remove or make discretionary the caning penalty for 22 lesser offences, including blocking railway carriages and carrying offensive weapons.
The Bill also updates regulatory rules for precious metal dealers, extending the holding period before melting or altering goods from three days to five days, to enhance traceability in law enforcement investigations.
Commitment to Public Safety
In a statement, MHA said:
“We are determined to maintain a safe and secure Singapore, where people have confidence in our criminal justice system, and where criminals have no refuge and are deterred from committing crime.”
The proposed Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill (Bill 15 of 2025) represents one of the most comprehensive criminal law updates in recent years, reflecting Singapore’s ongoing commitment to strengthen deterrence, modernise outdated provisions, and address new forms of crime in the digital age.
