Parliament passes law introducing caning for scammers and stronger penalties for online sexual offences

On 4 November 2025, Singapore's Parliament passed the Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill, introducing sweeping changes that include caning for serious scam offenders and online sexual predators.

The reforms aim to address the surge in digital crime, protect vulnerable victims, and modernise criminal sentencing frameworks.

During the Bill's second reading, Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs Sim Ann highlighted that scams have become the most prevalent crime in Singapore, accounting for 60 per cent of all reported crimes.

Between 2020 and the first half of 2025, approximately 190,000 scam cases were reported, with total losses exceeding S$3.88 billion.

Sim said: “These are staggering numbers... the losses are more than three and a half times the cost of building Woodlands Health Campus.”

Caning for scammers and online predators

Under the new law, members of scam syndicates and those aiding them—such as money mules who provide bank accounts, SIM cards, or Singpass credentials—face caning of up to 24 strokes. Money mules may be subjected to up to 12 strokes of discretionary caning.

Those who circulate obscene content to 10 or more individuals now face up to two years' jail, up from three months. If the content involves persons under 18, the maximum jail term increases to four years.

Group administrators who knowingly enable the sharing of such material will face penalties under new offences targeting the facilitation of online sexual harm.

Strong support from some MPs

Jurong Central MP Xie Yao Quan supported the stiffer punishments, arguing that the criminal force inflicted online can be more severe than physical force due to its scale and speed. He likened scammers to manufacturers of Class A drugs and called for similar penalties, though he stopped short of supporting capital punishment.

Tanjong Pagar MP Foo Cexiang also called for mandatory caning for scam mules and harsher penalties for impersonating government officials, stating these scams are “the most deplorable”.

Citing the effectiveness of past deterrent strategies, Foo drew comparisons with how vandalism was tackled through caning, which he said helped prevent the act from taking root in society.

Dissent and calls for calibrated enforcement

Workers’ Party MP Sylvia Lim expressed concern about the deterrent value of caning for scam-related offences, particularly when many scams originate from overseas. She welcomed the reduced reliance on caning for offences like vandalism and advocated for a more evidence-based approach.

Fellow WP MP Fadli Fawzi urged a focus on increasing arrest rates for scam ringleaders and offering leniency to lower-level operatives, who may be coerced or unaware of the full nature of their actions.

Jurong East-Bukit Batok MP David Hoe similarly argued that the threat of caning is unlikely to deter overseas-based criminals and instead called for stronger cross-border enforcement and more robust scam education in schools and communities.

Protecting vulnerable groups and addressing youth justice

Several MPs raised concerns about fairness and proportionality in punishment. Melvin Yong (Radin Mas) and Henry Kwek (Kebun Baru) urged leniency for vulnerable individuals, including youth and those with mild intellectual disabilities, who become unwitting participants in scams.

Kwek recommended a graduated charging framework for youth aged 14 to 17, to avoid treating adolescents as fully mature offenders.

Older youth offenders aged 16 and 17 can now face deterrent sentences, including imprisonment and caning, if prosecuted in the State Courts or High Court, instead of Youth Courts.

Bishan-Toa Payoh MP Cai Yinzhou and Nee Soon MP Lee Hui Ying questioned the age limit of 50 for caning, suggesting an upward revision to 60 in line with increasing national health spans.

Sexual offences and technology abuse

The Bill introduces more severe penalties for the circulation of obscene materials, especially involving minors. Notably, it criminalises synthetic images produced using generative AI, even if no actual person was used in their creation.

These measures come in response to notorious cases like SG Nasi Lemak, where explicit content involving women and girls was widely shared. Sim warned of the irreparable psychological damage such victims may suffer, stating: “These victims may never have peace of mind again.”

The legal definition of minors in obscene material cases will now align with UN standards, raising the age from 16 to 18.

Doxxing and falsehoods

Doxxing of public servants, when accompanied by false information, will now attract a maximum penalty of three years’ jail and a fine of up to S$10,000.

In response to a question from Sylvia Lim, Sim clarified that ministers are considered public servants. Whether MPs fall under this classification remains under review by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Other notable amendments

• Fatal abuse of vulnerable persons: Offenders can now face up to 30 years’ jail or life imprisonment.

• Cross-border sexual grooming: Offenders who meet or plan to meet victims overseas face increased penalties of up to seven years’ jail.

• Precious metals regulation: Waiting time before dealers can alter goods is extended from three to five days to enhance traceability.

• Review of caning offences: Caning has been removed for eight offences deemed no longer proportionate, such as certain acts under the Railways Act.

The Bill was passed without amendments.