Overview
- Under the Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill passed on Nov. 4, scammers and fraud syndicate members face six to 24 strokes in addition to prison terms.
- People who knowingly assist scams, such as by selling bank accounts, SIM cards or identification details, can receive up to 12 strokes.
- Only medically fit male offenders under 50 are eligible for caning, with medical checks required and a statutory cap of 24 strokes per trial.
- The government cites scams accounting for about 60% of crime and roughly $385 million in losses in the first half of 2025 as justification.
- Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International condemn caning as torture, and critics question its impact on overseas syndicates beyond Singapore’s reach.