Singapore’s amended caning provisions for scam offences took effect on December 30, 2025, alongside imprisonment and fines. The report described this as Singapore’s first introduction of caning for scam offences. It also said three strokes were usually enough to leave the offender’s buttocks torn and lacerated.
Under the Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2025, passed on November 4, specified scammers, scam-syndicate members and recruiters face mandatory caning of six to 24 strokes. The Home Affairs Ministry’s announcement defines the relevant scam offence as section 420 cheating committed mainly through remote communications. For specified enabling offences involving laundering scam proceeds, such as supplying bank accounts to facilitate laundering, or providing SIM cards or Singpass credentials, courts may impose discretionary caning of up to 12 strokes. The conditions include intending or knowing that an enabler would be used for a scam; or its actual use in a scam, knowledge or reasonable grounds to believe it would be used for crime, and failure to take reasonable steps to prevent its use for a scam.
According to Home Affairs Ministry figures cited in the report, scam losses from 2020 through the first half of 2025 exceeded US$2.8 billion, with as many as 190,000 reported cases.
