Amrin Amin
Singapore
“The Police have taken this very seriously and have taken stern measures. The law is quite strict on this and I think it is adequate deterrence for those who persist in such conduct. We have, in addition to the law, also taken complementary measures such as advisories and various other measures.”
“The Police take a serious view of all reports of falsehoods regarding the COVID-19 situation, including those that claim “partial lockdown”, as these may cause public alarm. The Police will investigate such cases and take firm action against the culprits.”
“The offences under the Miscellaneous Offences Act and POFMA while similar, involve different elements which the prosecution is required to prove. Every case of communication of false message is assessed based on the findings rising from investigations and the Public Prosecutor exercises his discretion on the most appropriate charge.”
“Police operational deployments are confidential and are driven by an assessment of the law and order situation. The Police deploy a significant number of Auxiliary Police Officers and Security Officers to patrol Little India during peak periods such as weekend nights, eve of Public Holidays and Public Holidays.”
“The Government has announced legislation that will allow entities, including societies, to adopt prescribed alternative arrangements so that meetings can be conducted in a manner compliant with the safe distancing measures announced on 24 March 2020.”
“Patrol deployment plans are calibrated based on the crime trends as well as the crowd footfall. We note the Member's feedback but just to let the Member know, the patrol team does patrol common areas as well as specific areas of concern.”
The complete record
Every one of 359 lines we hold for Amrin Amin, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 3 of 8.
“I thank Mr Low Thia Khiang for the question. I think this is a very complex Bill and, as a result, there are some of these amendments and we want to be very careful about this. So, some of these amendments needed to be made so as not to leave any doubts and cause problems later on. I apologise for the inconvenience and I think we can get through this quite quickly.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I beg to move amendments 1 and 2* standing in the name of the Minister for Home Affairs, as indicated in the Order Paper Supplement. The amendments to section 121B remove the “thought crime” limbs of the offence, by deleting the words “compasses, imagines, invents, devises or intends”, and replacing them with the modern term of “plans”. There is value in retaining section 121B as amended. The term “plans” refers to early preparatory acts which may fall short of the “substantial step” requirement for attempts or criminal conspiracy to be made out. This will allow for authorities to intervene at an earlier stage of planning than what is currently allowed under the law of “attempts” and “criminal conspiracy”. The death penalty will also be removed as a punishment option for this offence, and an imprisonment sentence of up to 20 years will be included as a sentencing option. [(proc text) *The amendments read as follows: (proc text)] [(proc text) (1) In page 35, line 29: to leave out “Amendment”, and insert “Repeal and re-enactment”. (proc text)] [(proc text) (2) In page 35: to leave out after “is” in line 30 to end of line 31, and insert — (proc text)] [(proc text) “repealed and the following section substituted therefor: (proc text)] [(proc text) “Offences against authority (proc text)] [(proc text) 121B. Whoever plans the unlawful deprivation or deposition of the President from the sovereignty of Singapore, or the overawing by criminal force of the Government, shall be punished with imprisonment for life or for a term which may extend to 20 years and shall, if he is not sentenced to imprisonment for life, also be liable to fine.”.”. (proc text)]”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, there are two amendments to clause 39, as indicated in the Order Paper Supplement. As the amendments are related, may I seek your permission to move them together?”
“Whoever plans the death of or hurt to or unlawful imprisonment or restraint of the President, shall be punished with imprisonment for life or for a term which may extend to 20 years and shall, if he is not sentenced to imprisonment for life, also be liable to fine.”.”. (proc text)]”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I beg to move amendments 1 and 2* standing in the name of the Minister for Home Affairs, as indicated in the Order Paper Supplement. The intent behind the amendment to section 121A is to remove the limbs of the offence that do not require the offender to commit any physical act or omission. These are colloquially known as “thought crimes”. While this was not proposed by PCRC, the Government reviewed this and is of the view that this should be amended to keep the law updated. There is value in retaining section 121A, but we should limit its scope. In that regard, the Government proposes to remove the words “compasses, imagines, invents, devises or intends”, and replace them with “plans”. This will remove the “thought crime” limbs of the offence. The term “plans” refers to early preparatory acts which may fall short of the “substantial step” requirement for attempts or criminal conspiracy to be made out. This will allow for authorities to intervene at an earlier stage of planning than what is currently allowed under the law of “attempts” and “criminal conspiracy”. The death penalty will also be removed as a punishment option for this offence, and an imprisonment sentence of up to 20 years will be included as a sentencing option. [(proc text) *The amendments read as follows: (proc text)] [(proc text) (1) In page 35, line 25: to leave out “Amendment”, and insert “Repeal and re-enactment”. (proc text)] [(proc text) (2) In page 35: to leave out after “is” in line 26 to end of line 28, and insert — (proc text)] [(proc text) “repealed and the following section substituted therefor: (proc text)] [(proc text) “Offences against the President’s person (proc text)] [(proc text) 121A.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, there are two amendments to clause 38, as indicated in the Order Paper Supplement. As the amendments are related, may I seek your permission to move them together?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I beg to move amendments 1 to 4* standing in the name of the Minister for Home Affairs, as indicated in the Order Paper Supplement. The amendments are to give effect to the legislative intention that inchoate abetments of offences punishable with death or life imprisonment be punishable with discretionary caning. [(proc text) *The amendments read as follows: (proc text)] [(proc text) (1) In page 33, line 18: to leave out “and”. (proc text)] [(proc text) (2) In page 33: after line 18, to insert — (proc text)] [(proc text) “(b) by inserting, immediately after the words “to fine” wherever they appear (including in the Illustration), the words “or to caning”;”. (proc text)] [(proc text) (3) In page 33, line 21: to leave out “.”, and insert “; and”. (proc text)] [(proc text) (4) In page 33: after line 21, to insert — (proc text)] [(proc text) “(d) by deleting the words “to a fine” in the Illustration and substituting the words “to fine or to caning”.”. (proc text)]”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, there are four amendments to clause 34, as indicated in the Order Paper Supplement. As the amendments are related, may I seek your permission to move them together?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I beg to move the amendment* standing in the name of the Minister for Home Affairs, as indicated in the Order Paper Supplement. The amendment is to make editorial amendments such that for an accused person to rely on a defence of unsoundness of mind, he must not know that what he is doing is wrong by the ordinary standards of reasonable and honest persons, and wrong as contrary to law. [(proc text) *The amendment read as follows: (proc text)] [(proc text) In page 25, line 20: to leave out “or” where it first occurs, and insert “and”. (proc text)] [(proc text) Amendment agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Clause 28, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill. (proc text)] [(proc text) Clauses 29 to 33 inclusive ordered to stand part of the Bill. (proc text)] [(proc text) Clause 34 – (proc text)]”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I beg to move the amendment* standing in the name of the Minister for Home Affairs, as indicated in the Order Paper Supplement. The amendment is to make clear the legislative intent that enhanced penalties for offences committed against domestic workers apply only to employers, members of an employer’s household and employment agents who commit offences against their domestic workers. [(proc text) *The amendment read as follows: (proc text)] [(proc text) In page 13, line 9: after “offence)”, to insert “that is committed against that domestic worker”. (proc text)] [(proc text) Amendment agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Clause 15, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill. (proc text)] [(proc text) Clauses 16 to 27 inclusive ordered to stand part of the Bill. (proc text)] [(proc text) Clause 28 – (proc text)]”
“(proc text)] [(proc text) Clause 8, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill. (proc text)] [(proc text) Clauses 9 to 14 inclusive ordered to stand part of the Bill. (proc text)] [(proc text) Clause 15 – (proc text)]”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I beg to move amendments 1 to 7* standing in the name of the Minister for Home Affairs, as indicated in the Order Paper Supplement. The amendments 1 to 5 proposed in clause 8 are to clarify the objective formulation of “rashness”. This is in line with the common law as stated by the High Court in PP vv Hue An Li. Amendment 6 is to clarify that some offences may have some physical elements which are strict liability and have no corresponding fault elements. Amendment 7 is to clarify the defence for a strict liability offence, which arises when the accused person shows that he exercised reasonable care in doing all the acts or omissions which are physical elements of the offence. [(proc text) *The amendments read as follows: (proc text)] [(proc text) (1) In page 8, lines 30 and 31: to leave out “, and that it is unreasonable to take that real risk,”. (proc text)] [(proc text) (2) In page 8, line 32: after “circumstance”, to insert “, if it would have been unreasonable to have taken that risk”. (proc text)] [(proc text) (3) In page 9, lines 2 and 3: to leave out “and that it is unreasonable to take that real risk”. (proc text)] [(proc text) (4) In page 9, line 3: to leave out “thing”, and insert “act”. (proc text)] [(proc text) (5) In page 9, line 3: after “effect”, to insert “, if it would have been unreasonable to have taken that risk”. (proc text)] [(proc text) (6) In page 11, line 16: to leave out “that”, and insert “any”. (proc text)] [(proc text) (7) In page 11, lines 19 and 20: to leave out “doing anything or omitting to do anything specified in the charge”, and insert “committing all the acts or omissions that are physical elements of the offence”. (proc text)] [(proc text) Amendments agreed to.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, there are seven amendments to clause 8, as indicated in the Order Paper Supplement. As the amendments are related, may I seek your permission to move them together.”
“On the issue of palliative arrangement, as I mentioned, it is a fact-sensitive exercise. The elements of the offence have to be made out, but certain indicators like the evidence of abuse and all that would have to be looked into. There will be Police investigations, the Courts will have to weigh the evidence, and the Prosecution as well would have to look at the evidence to see whether there is any merit to the complaint. So, the intent of the Act, is not to go after bona fide palliative arrangements. I think that is as far as I could go. But quite a lot of it is fact-sensitive. On the issue of under-reporting, we are aware this is a global phenomenon. We have made changes to our various processes, including reporting processes and the provisions today as well. These show a clear trajectory that we would like to provide extended support to victims of sexual offences, and we will do what we can. There will be various studies to see how we can extend our outreach and support people who are in such situations.”
“Under the provision, it would depend on the functions that they perform. The Bill has got specific requirements. So, if they perform a function as set out in the Bill, yes, they will be covered and they will be entitled to the protection accorded to public servants.”
“We are not introducing a general doctrine that a mandatory minimum sentence should be replaced by a presumptive minimum sentence. Finally, let me discuss an issue Members have raised, namely, education, awareness raising and social norms. Members have raised important and valid points. We agree that public education and awareness raising are vital, and we know that the amendments today need to be known beyond this House. We will continue to work on this together with Members and community partners. Yes, the law has its limits. The law can shape social norms, but it is only one factor. The legal direction is clear. Families, schools, media and the wider community, including non-government organisations, also play important roles in shaping norms, and we look forward to working together. I believe I have responded to major concerns raised by Members. I thank Members for their support on this important Bill. The amendments are timely, comprehensive and necessary. I thank members of the PCRC for its comprehensive report leading to this Bill and all who shared their views on the Bill. As Mr Christopher de Souza had said, this is a monumental Bill and a law that has been with us for close to 150 years. The task of this generation is to update it, strengthen it and make it relevant to today’s circumstances. This is an opportunity for this House to register our strongest condemnation against acts that harm the most vulnerable among us, persons like Annie Ee, Cindy, Daniel Nasser. It is our duty to protect our society against predators like Joshua Robinson and ensure that they get the justice they deserve. Thank you.”
“The SFA regulates specific financial transactions and products, whereas the fraud offence will cover any kind of dishonest or fraudulent behaviour for gain. The new fraud offence puts a stop to the game of "catch up" with actors who have a strong financial interest in finding loopholes in regulation. So, this law can be used against such actors. Mr Desmond Choo also asked about how the regime compares with that of foreign jurisdictions. The proposed fraud offence is adapted from the UK Fraud Act 2006. It has a heavier maximum punishment – 20 years’ imprisonment, as opposed to 10 years in the UK – to account for the fact that a single count of fraud can encompass a single deceptive scheme which affects multiple victims. The higher maximum punishment is to ensure that complex, large-scale frauds receive the appropriate sentence. Mr Desmond Choo also asked about the lack of a materiality requirement in the new offence. The purpose of the new fraud offence is to focus on the culpability of the offender and not the effect it may have had on the victim. Requiring proof of materiality requires a shift of focus back to the victim and how material they found the falsehood, and this is inconsistent with the purpose of the new fraud offence. Mr Christopher de Souza spoke about presumptive minimum sentences. The amendments set out the provisions which presumptive minimum sentences apply to. They include provisions in laws outside the Penal Code, including certain offences under the Passport Act, the Fisheries Act and the Immigration Act. But the listed offences do not include provisions in the Misuse of Drugs Act (MDA). The list of offences presumptive minimum sentences will be applied to is tightly scoped.”
“A policy decision has been made for these acts to be treated both as crimes and as civil wrongs. Mr Murali Pillai has proposed moving the Penal Code offences relating to kidnapping or corruption to other specialised legislation. We will consider Mr Murali Pillai’s feedback and will also ask the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau to consider it as well. I should address one point though. The Member said there was an anomaly in sentencing, that kidnapping in the Kidnapping Act is punishable by death but this was not the case in the Penal Code. The apparent inconsistency can actually be reconciled. The heavier penalties under the Kidnapping Act are due to the fact that kidnapping for ransom is involved. Conversely, the kidnapping offence in the Penal Code encompasses a much broader range of conduct, including less serious conduct. Mr Desmond Choo sought clarification on the need for an identifiable victim for the new fraud offence. The new offence of fraud does not require an identifiable victim. The LIBOR case is a clear example where dishonest gain can be made through the financial system without there being an identifiable victim or loss caused. It is very difficult to find a lay person who understands how LIBOR is calculated, given the arcane nature of the mechanism. Proving loss is also extremely difficult, because LIBOR is an inter-bank lending rate and it only impacts ordinary consumers indirectly, and the impact depends on the practices of each bank, for example, in setting fixed deposit interest rates linked to LIBOR. If it is clear that someone acted dishonestly to gain a benefit, he should be punished. Mr Desmond Choo asked why this new section was required in lieu of strengthening the Securities and Futures Act (SFA).”
“Ms Sylvia Lim and Mr Ang Wei Neng asked about the various scenarios in which the Police initiate investigations for VCH cases without any Magistrate's complaint. These include acts of VCH which cause serious injury which falls short of grievous hurt; acts of VCH involved in road rage; VCH cases involving secret society members; racially or religiously aggravated VCH cases and acts of VCH against public service workers, such as taxi drivers, transport workers or nurses. We will continue to monitor the situation with regard to VCH and study the various suggestions. Post-amendment, we can assess if there is a need to create a more expedited framework for the resolution of other types of VCH cases and if this can be done without compromising due process or compromising the delivery of Police response to other more serious offences. Mr Murali Pillai asked about the proposed revision to criminal conspiracy. There are no reported instances of the use of section 120A of the Penal Code against conspiracies to engage in non-criminal conduct. There is no strong policy reason or public imperative to keep it in the Penal Code. There is available recourse for such civil wrongs through the civil Courts. The same approach is taken in the UK under the Criminal Law Act 1977, where criminal conspiracy is limited to agreements to commit offences. The Member also spoke about criminal defamation. The assessment on criminal defamation is different. While there is civil recourse for defamation, the policy assessment is that there may be certain cases of defamation where criminal sanctions are required to reflect the seriousness with which society regards such conduct. It overlaps with a civil wrong, but so do other crimes, such as theft and fraud.”
“So, we looked at factors, such as prevailing criminal activity among the various age groups. We assessed that there would not be a significant threat to public safety to raise the MACR to 10 years of age. Persons of 10 years of age or above and under 12, can still avail themselves of a defence if they can show that they have not attained sufficient maturity of understanding to judge the nature and consequences of his conduct. We think this strikes the right balance. Mr Melvin Yong spoke about his concerns regarding the raising of the MACR. I hear the Member’s concerns, and assure him that the raising of the MACR will only come into force when the mechanism to address offending behaviour in children below the MACR is put in place. The framework will ensure that children below the MACR will still have their behaviour addressed. I thank Ms Sylvia Lim for her support for the introduction of section 323A and the raising of the maximum sentence for section 323. Both Ms Sylvia Lim and Mr Ang Wei Neng spoke about VCH and arrestability. We do take hurt offences seriously. All Penal Code offences committed against children under 14, vulnerable persons and domestic workers will be made arrestable, regardless of the arrestability of the underlying offence. This includes VCH against these vulnerable victims. In addition, the expansion of the definition of “public servants” to include persons, such as those who conduct illegal parking enforcement on behalf of the Government, means that acts of hurt committed against a wider range of persons will be arrestable. So, we are moving incrementally, to ensure that cases get the appropriate response and there is no inadvertent diversion of Police resources away from critical cases.”
“Our experience informs us that callers who call emergency lines to report attempts do not call to report a crime. They call for help, out of concern for the safety of the person attempting suicide and others in the vicinity of the person. Mr Christopher de Souza asked for a study to be conducted following the decriminalisation. We will monitor the situation post-amendment but we must remember that suicide attempts happen for various reasons. An increase or decrease in the number of attempts may not be attributable to criminalisation or decriminalisation. Mr Ang Wei Neng asked for statistics on reports for attempted suicide. The number has been steady in the last five years, and the average annual number of reports is 1,210. The medical literature suggests that there are multiple factors that affect suicide risk, ranging from barriers to seeking help, to economic downturns, to personal risk factors, for example, mental health disorders, substance abuse, financial problems and many others. Mr Ang Wei Neng suggested that there be mandatory counselling for those who attempt suicide. SOS operates a 24-hour hotline to counsel persons in distress. The Institute of Mental Health (IMH) operates a 24-hour Mental Health Helpline to assess and triage cases and activate home visit teams if necessary. To make it mandatory means that we will have to enforce the need to go for counselling and are likely to do so on pain of punishment. Again, we are trying to move away, in this area, from criminalisation to help. So, we should tread carefully in this aspect. Mr Louis Ng spoke about the Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility (MACR) and whether it could be raised to the age of 12. There is currently no scientific consensus on what the MACR should be.”
“Mr Louis Ng spoke about support professionals that could assist the Police when intervening in attempted suicide cases. The Singapore Police Force's (SPF’s) Crisis Negotiation Unit is trained to handle cases like suicide attempts. Comprising Police officers and psychologists, they are trained in negotiation tactics and suicide intervention. Officers are also trained to ensure their own safety. Social workers, for instance, at the Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) and Social Service Offices, can be involved later after the Police have ensured the safety of various parties. We will look into Mr Louis Ng’s suggestion on psychological first aid training. On the use of MyResponder, interventions involving attempted suicide are different from CPR and AED procedures. We want to avoid a situation where a well-meaning member of the public reacting to the notification exacerbates the situation or puts himself in a position of danger. Mr Murali Pillai spoke about Police intervention and treatment. The safeguards that were previously there – Police intervention, Singapore Civil Defence Force intervention – will still be there, post-decriminalisation. Where appropriate, the Police can still exercise powers under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Act. There will still be mental health treatment for appropriate cases. But as Ms Anthea Ong highlighted, not all cases involve mental illness. For others, counselling or family support may be needed. The Government will continue to maintain statistics, taking into account inputs from the various agencies which respond to suicide attempts. Some Members have raised questions on whether decriminalisation will impact reporting by the public. This should not be the case.”
“I want to thank Members for their support for the amendments to sections 375 on rape, 376 on sexual assault involving penetration, and 509 on insult of modesty. Ms Anthea Ong supported the expanded legal definition of rape and spoke passionately about the need to protect all victims of sexual assault, regardless of gender. We agree. Ms Anthea Ong spoke about a positive definition of “consent” in the Penal Code. Instituting a new positive definition of consent could generate further uncertainty in view of the fairly settled law in this instance. The PCRC studied this issue and found that the experience of England and Wales in having a positive statutory definition does not help in clarifying the scope of consent. Ms Anthea Ong has suggested greater public awareness about the contours of consent. We will work with agencies and organisations to improve on public education in this area. Members spoke on the repeal of attempted suicide. I was particularly struck by Mr Desmond Choo’s first-hand account from his days as a Police officer where he had to serve a warning to a semi-paralysed lady who had attempted suicide. He said "it felt unnecessary and discomforting". With today’s amendments, such warnings will no longer be required. Mr Christopher de Souza set out his concerns regarding the decriminalisation of attempted suicide. Let me be clear. The abetment of attempted suicide is still a crime. The amendments actually enhance the penalties for abetment of attempted suicide significantly. The amendments multiply the maximum punishment by 10 times to 10 years’ imprisonment, and for certain other categories. Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide remain illegal.”
“We take a strong stand against sites that host prohibited material. The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) can issue directions to the Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to block access to such websites. Internet content providers (ICPs) include web-hosting services, and they are all class-licensed under the Broadcasting Act. So, they are required to comply with the Internet Code of Practice and ensure that prohibited material is not hosted on their websites. If such websites are verified to be hosted in Singapore, IMDA can direct the ICPs to take down the content and suspend or cancel the class licences of the ICPs. I thank Members for their support for the repeal of marital immunity for rape. Mr Louis Ng asked about the extent of the repeal of marital immunity. The answer is all non-consensual sex with one’s spouse will be an offence. His question also discusses sex within marriage involving minors. It is not tenable to completely ban minor marriages today. A majority of countries around the world share the same approach. The legal age of marriage is set at 18 years of age. We allow minors in Singapore to enter into marriage with special approval, but these marriages are extremely rare and robust safeguards are in place. Members raised concerns relating to proof. I will make two points in response. First, all cases of alleged rape, within or outside of marriage, are subject to the same level of evidential rigour during investigation and prosecution. Police officers at the Serious Sexual Crime Branch are trained to deal with complex issues of evidence and proof. Second, there are existing offences in the Penal Code on false reporting and we are enhancing penalties for false reporting.”
“Mr Patrick Tay, Mr Desmond Choo and Mr Melvin Yong asked about the impact of the new offences of voyeurism and distribution of intimate images on private investigators, persons who report crimes, or caregivers. There are defences where the recordings are for legitimate purposes. Specific requirements apply to qualify for this defence. Among others, the act has to be done without malice, with reasonable cause and the image or recording is used for contemplated or pending Court proceedings and is not kept longer than necessary or required. Mr Desmond Choo sought a clarification on whether cases which involved the distribution of videos prior to these amendments coming into force would be investigated under the new offences. They would, if the distribution takes place after the provisions take effect. If their offending acts occurred before the new laws are in force, they would be dealt with under prevailing laws. Mr Patrick Tay also suggested that the Courts be allowed to make orders which essentially involve the deletion of the offending images or recordings. The Courts can order the disposal of any property which has been used in the commission of an offence. The CPC was amended last year to specifically allow an order for the deletion of data on a computer or mobile phone where the data was the subject of an offence. Mr Patrick Tay also spoke on dealing with the source of the offending images. The source of the images will be identified through Police investigations and the Police will do its best to track the source. Those in possession of the images have to cooperate in investigations to provide information on the originators of such material. Mr Desmond Choo and Er Dr Lee Bee Wah spoke about websites that carry prohibited material.”
“We have also introduced a sexual communication offence to deal with sexting between an adult and a child. These address grooming behaviour upstream. We will closely monitor and take action against the users of dating websites or social media sites if they exploit young persons. Mr Alex Yam spoke on criminalising all forms of child abuse material. The distribution and sale of fictional child abuse material are criminalised as "obscene material" in the Penal Code and will be subject to enhanced penalties. The current maximum penalty is three months and it will be enhanced to two years. We thank Mr Alex Yam for drawing our attention to the international developments and we will monitor the situation closely. Er Dr Lee Bee Wah spoke about cases where parents have clearly ignored the sexual abuse of their children. She asked about abettors and those who repeatedly witness abuse but do nothing. The amendments criminalise the failure of caregivers to protect children from ill-treatment, which includes the subjecting of the child to sexual abuse. Where death is caused to the child or young person, the maximum imprisonment term has been increased from seven to 14 years. Where death is not caused, the maximum imprisonment term has been increased from four to eight years. Ms Sylvia Lim asked about the CYPA amendments, whether they will be brought into effect at the same time that MSF raises the proposed definition of "young person" to 18. We will try to see whether we can have the changes take effect at the same time, or, if that is not possible, as soon as practicable. Members supported the introduction of the new offence of voyeurism and distribution of intimate images.”
“Mr Patrick Tay suggested that psychiatric treatment or psychological counselling be mandatory for sexual predators after the completion of their sentence. We will consider this suggestion. Mr Patrick Tay will be aware that offenders who are subject to the Mandatory Aftercare Scheme (MAS) for certain serious sexual offences are required to undergo community supervision and must comply with conditions, such as counselling and case management. Mr Melvin Yong spoke about the impact of the amendments on Prisons' resources. The Ministry will monitor the impact of the amendments on Prisons and continue to ensure that Prisons will be adequately staffed and resourced. Members had a discussion earlier about the possibility of certain Penal Code offences being amended by Schedule. In general, Parliament should have oversight of criminal offences of general application, such as those in the Penal Code. There is agreement that we do not retrospectively make acts criminal. On section 409, we acted to reform section 409 as quickly as practicable, considering the need to consult the relevant stakeholders. I believe that the amendment has benefited from Parliamentary scrutiny. In the case of the Misuse of Drugs Act, it is a specialised legislation and the Schedule lists classes of substances. If we only list specific molecules, the peddlers will change one of many of the component molecules. So, there is, in that case, a particular operational context. Er Dr Lee Bee Wah spoke about minors dating adults and of dating websites. We share Er Dr Lee Bee Wah's concerns and our response is multi-pronged. The amendments today will deal with sexual exploitation of minors by adults. We want to prevent predatory conduct by adults against minors. We have amended the sexual grooming offences.”
“A person with a physical disability, for instance, may not necessarily be vulnerable, say, in respect of a white-collar crime like fraud. There has to be a link between the vulnerability and the offence for enhanced punishments to apply. Ms Irene Quay and Er Dr Lee Bee Wah made suggestions to improve the reporting and detection of domestic violence. Domestic abuse should, in the first instance, be reported to the Police. The Police are trained to deal with such cases and have the legal powers to intervene quickly to stop any imminent or ongoing abuse. The Police also work with MSF to ensure that the victim receives care and, if required, will physically separate the victim and the assailant. MSF will consider the Members' suggestions. As Ms Irene Quay acknowledged, much has already been done by MSF. Assoc Prof Walter Theseira asked how the amendments relating to abuse and neglect of vulnerable victims interact with decisions associated with palliative care. The Bill does not affect bona fide palliative arrangements. The Bill, for example, at section 304C, introduces obligations on persons in the household who have frequent contact with the victim and who are aware of a significant risk of grievous hurt being caused to the victim to take steps which could reasonably have been expected of such persons to take, to protect the victim from the significant risk. This involves a fact-sensitive exercise. Mr Patrick Tay and Er Dr Lee Bee Wah spoke about rehabilitation of offenders in Prisons. Psychiatric intervention will be provided to selected offenders where necessary and feasible. Prisons' programmes also include psychology-based correctional programmes, family programmes and work programmes.”
“Ms Rahayu Mahzam and Mr Melvin Yong spoke about the proposed section 304 offence, and whether persons who are also suffering from abuse might be prosecuted for not taking action. The provision provides that a person is not guilty of an offence under section 304C if she could not have been expected in her circumstances to take steps to protect the victim from the significant risk of grievous hurt. We have also provided that such circumstances include her past or present experiences of abuse as a result of an unlawful act by any member of the same household as her. Ms Rahayu Mahzam also asked about the differences between the new sections 335A and 304C. The bases for the introduction of these offences are quite different. The offences of "failure to protect" has been proposed to cover persons who owe these vulnerable victims a duty of care. It reflects society's view that these people are responsible for the safety and well-being of the vulnerable victims in their care, custody or control. The offence of "causing or allowing death" applies to members of the same household as, and who have frequent contact with, the victim. This offence was introduced to overcome an evidential difficulty where two accused persons who have the exclusive opportunity to harm the vulnerable victim deny any ill-treatment of the victim. Ms Anthea Ong and Ms Sylvia Lim asked about conditions under which the Courts may apply enhanced penalties for the offences against vulnerable victims. The enhanced penalties allow the Courts to punish offenders more severely if they prey on the vulnerabilities of certain persons. If the vulnerability did not make the person more susceptible to the offence, the offender will be subjected to punishment but not enhanced punishment.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I thank the Members who have spoken. Let me address the points that have been raised by Members. Members spoke positively about the amendments relating to vulnerable victims. Members spoke eloquently and passionately about the need to protect the vulnerable. Victims like Annie Ee and Daniel Nasser were mentioned in many of the Members' speeches. No words can express the sorrow their families went through. We hope that the new laws protecting vulnerable victims will help to deter such cases from occurring. Ms Rahayu Mahzam asked about the difference between "vulnerable person" in the Bill and "vulnerable adult" in the Vulnerable Adults Act (VAA). The VAA provides powers to the state to take intrusive measures, such as removal of the vulnerable adult from their living conditions. Hence, a narrow definition of "vulnerable adults" was adopted in VAA. This is to strike a balance between respecting individual autonomy and protecting those in need of help using intrusive protective measures. Those that do not meet the high threshold in the VAA can and have been helped in other ways. PCRC was of the view that the definition in the VAA was too narrow for the purposes of the Penal Code, and it recommended for "vulnerable persons" in the Penal Code to be wider to cover more persons. This sends a strong deterrent signal and can potentially reduce the need to resort to intrusive remedial measures as envisaged in VAA. The VAA was only recently passed. We should give it time and MSF will keep a close watch to ensure the interests of the vulnerable in the community are looked after and the balance appropriately struck.”
“Presumptive minimum sentences will be introduced for the remaining eight offences as set out in the Bill. Only first-time offenders will qualify for presumptive minimum sentences. For these offenders, the Court may sentence them to a punishment which is less than MMS in exceptional circumstances. We have provided guidance in the law on exceptional circumstances. Where the accused person is a first-time offender, pleaded guilty and where he was of previous good character – the mere presence of all or any of these factors will not be sufficient to constitute exceptional circumstances. The Court will determine what exceptional circumstances are. Currently, Courts can already exercise judicial mercy in very rare cases where humanitarian considerations arise. This gives us an idea of the degree of exceptionality that is required. The introduction of presumptive minimum sentences is not a softening of the Government's stance against such crimes. Because exceptional circumstances must be shown, we anticipate that the majority of offenders who commit these offences will still face the prescribed minimum sentence. Almost all the provisions will come into force early next year in 2020. In this major review of the Penal Code, we have clarified existing concepts and amended our laws to reflect prevailing norms and better respond to our changing environment. Minister Shanmugam will provide the Government's views on the changes to two key areas: sexual offences and enhancing protection of the most vulnerable amongst us. Mr Speaker, I beg to move. [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)]”
“The new fraud offence has been adapted from the UK's Fraud Act. Clauses 138 and 139 give effect to this. The experience of the UK in the implementation of the fraud offence has been positive. It has enabled the UK government to respond to technologically-enabled and complex forms of fraud. One point on online scams. While these would fall within the definition of fraud, most of these offences are committed by perpetrators overseas. For such cases, prevention is better than cure. While the Police will continue to clamp down on scam activities and work actively with our foreign counterparts, it is a fact that it is challenging to bring these foreign perpetrators to task. Finally, I will touch on the fourth area, which is updating the sentencing framework. We have made some amendments to the sentencing framework to ensure that the sentences prescribed are proportionate to the seriousness of the offence. Members of this House will be familiar with mandatory minimum sentences (MMS). MMS refers to a sentence where the law mandates that a judge must impose a minimum jail term or another sentence, such as caning, for a particular offence. MMS has served us well. It enhances deterrence for serious offences by imposing certain, predictable sentences on offenders. We recognise that society has become safer, less violent and more mature. It is, therefore, timely to review all the offences which attract MMS today. We have decided to retain MMS for offences in the Penal Code, Misuse of Drugs Act and illegal moneylending offences. MMS will also be retained for offences which attract a mandatory sentence of caning. These offences are serious and generally involve elements of physical confrontation and violence.”
“Clauses 2 and 168 give effect to this. The Bill introduces the new offence of fraud. To understand the need for fraud offences, we need to look at the current offence of cheating. The offence relies on there being a victim that relied on the deception by the offender. The deception had to induce the victim to do something. Take, for instance, the London inter-bank lending rate (LIBOR)-fixing scandal in the United Kingdom (UK). It would be very difficult to show that the victims relied upon the fraudulent representations of the bank employees who manipulated LIBOR. Calculations for LIBOR are complicated and may not be understood by these victims. Yet, the LIBOR-fixing scandal is egregious, with far-reaching consequences on financial markets and products. We must be able to take action against such dishonest behaviour. The new offence of fraud is intended to deal with novel and complex schemes which the current offence of cheating may not cover. It focuses on the deceitful intent of the offender and not the effect on the alleged victim. Trivial lies will not be caught. The cheating offence will continue to be used where the elements of the offence are satisfied. Two variants of fraud will be introduced. The first, fraud directly in connection with written or oral contracts for goods and services, and the second, other types of fraud. The second category of other types of fraud will come into force first, with the rest of the Penal Code amendments. For fraud in connection with contracts for goods and services, we are working on the development of a mechanism, which allows private persons to obtain recourse for more common cases involving smaller losses. This mechanism may involve private prosecutions, civil claims or some other avenues.”
“We need to strike a balance between protection of the public and fairness to young children who may not be able to understand the consequences of their action. There is no international consensus on the appropriate MACR. The MACR of seven years old is on the lower end of the spectrum. We studied this very carefully. In Singapore, criminal activity among children below the age of 10 is very low. We see increased criminal activity from the age of 10 onwards, and most juveniles commit property offences. On balance, we think an MACR of 10 years old would be more appropriate in our context. Children below 10, and those between 10 and 12 who are not mature enough to understand the nature and consequences of their conduct, will not be convicted. But this does not mean that we do nothing. We are looking to develop a framework to allow us to intervene in cases of such young children. The raising of MACR will take effect when the framework for rehabilitation of these young children has been finalised. Clauses 25 and 26 give effect to this. I will now move on to the third key area on how the Penal Code will be amended to deal with emerging crime trends, especially in the area of white-collar offences. Offences can be committed across national borders, with the constituent elements of offences committed in different countries. Indeed, many white-collar offences have multiple physical elements which can take place in different countries. It is currently not clear whether Singapore Courts will have jurisdiction when some elements take place in Singapore, and others outside of Singapore. A new Schedule will be inserted into the Penal Code. Singapore Courts will have jurisdiction over offences in this Schedule, where any relevant act of the offence occurs in Singapore.”
“Where the accused person proves that he made a mistake in good faith such that he believed that the act of penetration was done with consent, he will not be liable for the offence of rape or sexual assault by penetration. In other words, the amendments in clauses 110 and 111 will make clear the burden of proof remains on the accused person to prove on the balance of probabilities that he was mistaken in good faith that there was consent. The amendments will not affect other presumptions which exist in law today, such as those in the Misuse of Drugs Act. We will address an anomaly in the defence of intoxication in section 86. This was pointed out by the High Court in Juma'at bin Samad v PP. With the amendment, intoxication must be taken into account in determining the accused person's "knowledge" or "belief", in addition to "intention". I wish to make clear that all other aspects of the law on intoxication in Juma'at are preserved. The Explanatory Statement is not clear in this regard, and this speech clarifies the intent. This includes the requirement for the accused person to prove on the balance of probabilities that he was so intoxicated that he did not form the requisite fault element for the offence. Clause 29 gives effect to this. We will increase the minimum age of criminal responsibility, known as MACR, from seven to 10 years old. Children who are below MACR, and those above the MACR but below 12 years of age, who are unable to understand the nature and consequences of their conduct, cannot be held criminally responsible for any act or omission which would otherwise be an offence. The current MACR is seven years old, and this is a colonial inheritance, since 1872.”
“The Bill amends other laws to ensure that the Police will still be able to intervene in suicide situations. Members of the public will still be able to call for emergency assistance in cases where a person is attempting suicide. The offence of abetment of attempted suicide will be retained. This will include physician-assisted suicides. Under this Bill, the maximum imprisonment term for abetment of attempted suicide will be enhanced significantly from one year to 10 years. Where the abetment of attempted suicide is of a minor or a person who lacks mental capacity, higher maximum punishments will apply – 15 years' imprisonment. If hurt is caused to the minor or the person who lacks mental capacity in the course of the abetment, the maximum punishment is imprisonment for life or imprisonment for a term which may extend to 20 years. Clauses 84, 85, 89, 180 and 183 give effect to this. The Bill codifies the definitions of fault elements, such as intention, knowledge and dishonesty. These definitions crystallise and clarify the existing case law. We wanted to make the law clearer since most of these definitions apply to offences outside the Penal Code as well. Clauses 7 and 8 deal with these. The Bill clarifies defences. First, the law on mistake. The amendments in clauses 21 and 22 will not change the existing law. There are two types of mistake – mistake of fact and mistake of law. First, it will continue to be the case that ignorance of law and mistake of law will not be a defence. Second, to be clear, we have clarified expressly, in clauses 110 and 111, the current position at law on the defence of mistake as to consent for the offences of rape and sexual assault by penetration.”
“I want to assure the House that all allegations of rape will be held to the same high standard of evidential rigour. There is a separate proposal which goes some way to deal with this concern. We have doubled the maximum punishment for section 182 of the Penal Code – situations where persons give false information to a public servant – from one to two years' imprisonment. In other words, persons who knowingly make false reports will be dealt with firmly by the law. Clause 54 gives effect to this. The Bill will decriminalise attempted suicide. This proposal received wide public support, including from organisations which work directly with persons who attempt suicides, such as the Samaritans of Singapore (SOS). The criminal justice system is not the best way to deal with persons who are so distressed that they choose to end their own lives. In fact, the threat of prosecution, and the labelling of persons who attempt suicide as "offenders" may worsen their emotional state and the stigma they face. This view was shared by PCRC and many others during the public consultation process. There were some concerns that the decriminalisation of attempted suicide would reduce the deterrent effect and cause an increased number of suicides. However, bear in mind that persons who attempt suicide typically are so distressed that the deterrent effect of criminalisation is very low. The present situation is that hardly anyone is prosecuted and punished for this offence in the first place. There were also concerns that the decriminalisation of attempted suicide will send a signal that the Government has shifted its position on the sanctity of life. I assure you that this is not the case. Every effort will still be made to prevent suicides.”
“The Bill will expand the definition of rape to include penile penetration of the anus and mouth. Currently, the offence of rape covers only penile penetration of the vagina. We take the view that the label of "rape" is appropriate for non-consensual acts involving penile penetration of the anus and mouth. This reflects the high degree of violation and the physical and health risks involved. With this Bill, both men and women can be victims of rape. Clause 110 gives effect to this. Second, the Bill further clarifies the law on "consent" in the context of sexual offences. Clause 121 sets out three misconceptions of fact that would vitiate consent: sexual nature of the act; sexual purpose of the act; and identity of the perpetrator doing the act. We decided not to have a positive statutory definition of consent. Section 90 of the Penal Code currently sets out the situations where consent is negated. There is a good body of case law on this matter. Turning to the second key area in the Penal Code review, the updating of the Code to reflect shifting societal values. The Bill will criminalise marital rape without exception. Currently, marital immunity for rape is only removed in certain circumstances, where there has been a breakdown in the marriage. Sexual relations in a marriage and, indeed, in any relationship, should be based on mutual consent. Sexual assault is violence, and violence in any context is wrong. This is the basis on which we have repealed marital immunity. Clauses 110 and 112 of the Bill deal with this. There have been concerns raised that the complete repeal of marital immunity for rape could lead to an abuse of the legal process, due to an increase in unmeritorious allegations of rape by vindictive spouses.”
“Mr Speaker, on behalf of the Minister for Home Affairs, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." We inherited the Penal Code from the British. It is nearly 150 years old. It is an important part of Singapore’s criminal law. The last time the Penal Code was reviewed end-to-end was in 2007. Our world and society have changed. The nature and complexity of crime have also changed, and it is timely that we update the Penal Code to ensure continued relevance and effectiveness. The Penal Code Review Committee (PCRC) comprised lawyers, academics, judges and Ministry officials. The committee took two years to complete this extensive review. It submitted a report of nearly 500 pages and 169 recommendations on 31 August 2018. We considered the proposals by the PCRC and sought feedback from a wide range of stakeholders and also the general public. More than 700 stakeholders from the social, religious, financial, legal and education sectors were engaged in various dialogue sessions. We received written feedback from various individuals and organisations. We have also made the Bill available to Members of this House and to the public for the last three months. We are heartened by the general support for the proposals. My speech today will cover four key areas: updating current sexual offences; updating the Penal Code's definitions and removing outmoded offences; dealing with emerging crime trends; and updating the sentencing framework. Minister Shanmugam will cover the Government's views on two key areas: enhancement of protection for vulnerable victims and reviewing sexual offences, specifically, offences against minors and new sexual offences. On updating current sexual offences, first, let me talk about the offence of rape.”
“Mr Chairman, in Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.]: Many of our young people have achieved success in their professions and made their mark in their careers and contributions to society. Some have even received international accolades. Their stories of perseverance have been featured in mainstream media and social media. Their peers and others in our community are proud of their achievements and see them as sources of inspiration. I am pleased that there are also a good number of them who care for others and have a strong desire to give back to the community. We should tap on their energy and life experiences as well as empower them with opportunities and platforms to continue their good work and encourage others. How can we mobilise these individuals to contribute towards the development of our nation and community? MENDAKI Raikan Ilmu Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: Mr Chairman, in Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Education is a critical aspect in social mobility, as it opens doors to educational and career opportunities. Yet, educational attainment alone is not enough. Our children should not learn only for the sake of exams, but they must appreciate the purpose of self-development and self-mastery throughout life. To maximise the odds that our children would succeed in life, they must grow to appreciate the value of intellectual curiosity, adaptability and self-motivation. These foundational mindsets need to be imbued from a young age so that it becomes second nature. Could the Minister share on how our community organisations, such as MENDAKI, are supporting our children in inculcating an understanding of the importance of knowledge and the value of self-directed lifelong learning?”
“Mr Chairman, in Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.]: First, I would like to wish a Happy Women's Day and a Blessed Month of Rejab. Madrasah institutions have an illustrious tradition. They are important in equipping generations of azatizahs with a firm foundation in both secular and religious subjects. These azatizahs are our community assets and we are very proud of them. It is critical that we ensure madrasah students and teachers in Singapore continue to receive ample support and opportunities to fulfil their potential. What is being done to enhance our madrasahs so that they can continue to produce good quality graduates and continue their illustrious tradition? Assistance to Madrasah Wak Tanjong Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim (Nee Soon): Mr Chairman, in Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Chairman, during last year's Committee of Supply (COS), it was announced that the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) would be providing a Comprehensive Assistance Package to Madrasah Wak Tanjong. Could the Minister provide an update on MUIS' support for Madrasah Wak Tanjong so that the madrasah will continue to be an apex institution that produces religious scholars and leaders for the community? MENDAKI, MUIS and MESRA (M3)”
“Water conservation is key to ensuring sustainability of our water supply. A study by the Water Resources Institute in 2015 found that Singapore was a country most likely to be water-stressed in 2040, amid climate change and increasing water demand. Even so, a recent focus group study by PUB and the feedback unit Reaching Everyone for Active Citizenry @ Home (REACH) observed that younger Singaporeans and Permanent Residents appear to be less concerned about the sustainability of Singapore's water supply. The study also found that even amongst those willing to conserve water, many said that they did not have the means to manage water consumption effectively. Given that being able to meet our country's growing water demand is critical to Singapore's future developments, what initiatives will the Ministry and PUB introduce to help households achieve the target of lowering household water demand to 130 litres per capita per day by 2030? The non-domestic sector is expected to contribute significantly to our water demand growth. So, what are the initiatives to assist businesses in managing their water demand and increasing water efficiency?”
“Technology, when applied correctly, can enable Government agencies to deliver smarter and more efficient services to meet increasing demand and rising expectations. How are MSO and the municipal agencies harnessing technology to respond more efficiently and effectively to residents' issues? Good municipal service delivery is about understanding the needs of the local community and ensuring that they are met. 6.15 pm Last year, MSO announced that it is transforming the OneService app into a one-stop community platform beyond being a tool for reporting feedback in order to meet the needs of the community. Could MSO provide more information on how it will further develop the app to meet the diverse and changing needs of residents? Doing It Together”
“Sir, to answer Dr Lily Neo's question on making healthier food more affordable, this is something that we are studying in greater depth under the Healthy SG Taskforce, but there have been some efforts going on. HPB collaborates, for instance, with the local retailers to offer price discounts for Healthier Choice symbol house brand products and we have been working closely with retailers, such as the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), Cold Storage and Sheng Siong. We will see what else we can do on this front. But it is also worth pointing out that on healthier food, it does not cost so much to eat healthy. You can actually prepare chicken in healthier ways.”
“I thank Ms Irene Quay for the good suggestions. MOH is actually currently studying the models of care that will help patients access allied health services earlier, say, for example, the direct referral to community physiotherapists for agreed musculoskeletal presentations. On the point about remuneration for public sector AHPs, a point that was raised by Ms Irene Quay, beyond salaries, MOH works with the clusters to enhance the value proposition of an AHP career in the public sector, and these are things that I mentioned by providing learning and development opportunities. I mentioned in my speech also about the skills framework for healthcare that was launched in 2019 that will cover various training opportunities and career plans that they can have. As for pay, it is something that we will review. We always want to make sure that it is competitive so that we can retain good AHPs in the public sector.”
“Mr Chairman, I will focus on three areas: removing trans fat from our food supply; reducing smoking rates; and third, strengthening our health ecosystem. On the first area, artificial trans fat is harmful to health. According to WHO, artificial trans fat increases the risk of heart disease and has no known health benefits. WHO has called for countries to remove artificial trans fat from the food supply. Currently, our law requires food manufacturers to declare and limit the amount of trans fat in cooking oil and fats. Local trans fat halved from about two grammes per day in 2010 to one gramme per day in 2018. It is timely to build on this. We will be introducing a ban on partially-hydrogenated oil (PHO) in our food. Current trans fat regulations only apply to fats and oil. This ban will also extend to prepackaged food products, such as snacks, baked foods, prepared meals and fat spread. PHO is a major source of artificial trans fat in these foods. Banning PHO will not have an adverse effect on Singaporeans' food options and cost. MOH has consulted the local food industry which is generally supportive. The US, Canada and Thailand have also banned PHO. The industry will be given time to make adjustments. Details will be shared subsequently.”
“Cybercrime investigations are consolidated under a single Cybercrime Command. We have consolidated all the resources within the Divisions into a single Cybercrime Command, where we can pool all the resources together. I think the thrust of the question is whether there is capability on the ground to address cybercrime issues. The answer is yes, there is capability and there is concerted effort on our part to tackle this problem, and these are the various measures which we have introduced – from having a single Cybercrime Command, ensuring training of our officers on the ground as well as forming specialised units and involving the community. So, it is a concerted, comprehensive effort, a multi-prong approach towards tackling this issue.”
“The Member asked about training of frontline officers. In my reply, I mentioned about the training of frontline Police officers and investigation officers, that they have been trained in basic cybercrime investigations. In particular, officers with an aptitude for cybercrime investigations and digital forensics are given digitalised training. In addition, we have various specialised units that tackle cybercrime. On the issue of banks and the other stores and the turnover of staff, I think that is a valid point. I do not have the exact numbers in terms of the number of staff that have been trained. This goes to show that ongoing training and continuous outreach are very, very important, given the turnover of staff. But it is something that we have to keep doing and do better. The key thing is the role of individuals to take precautionary measures to understand that some things are just too good to be true and, so, to take prevention measures at their end. I think that is the ultimate solution. Other than that, the other measures are something that we will keep doing and trying. But the individual is the best defence against cybercrimes.”
“This includes training frontline counter staff to spot scam victims and displaying crime advisories prominently at the counters and automated teller machines. These efforts have resulted in heightened awareness and vigilance amongst their staff, which helped prevent at least 80 scam cases involving close to $300,000 in 2018. In the online space, too, the Police have engaged major online shopping platforms to implement measures to safeguard consumers. An example is Police’s partnership with Carousell to remove suspicious advertisements on their platform, introduce a secure payment system, and feature scam advisories. The Police have also been working with the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) to step up public education on online and phone scams. The Police have also set up an Anti-Scam Helpline (1800-722-6688) and the www.scamalert.sg website. Members of the public are encouraged to visit the website to learn about the various types of scams and take steps to avoid becoming a victim.”
“In the past five years, the top scam types include e-commerce scams, loan scams, Internet love scams and credit-for-sex scams. For these top types of scams, the number of reported cases has gone up from around 2,600 cases in 2014 to around 5,800 cases in 2018. The Member asked about Police resources dedicated to online and phone scams. First, better organisation of resources. Since 2016, cybercrime investigation, digital forensics training, liaison and policy matters have been integrated under a single Cybercrime Command. This has allowed the Singapore Police Force to achieve better coordination among the different units involved in cybercrime. Second, better training of officers. All frontline Police officers and investigation officers have been trained in basic cybercrime investigations. In addition, officers with the aptitude for cybercrime investigations and digital forensics are given specialised training. Third, better use of technology to help solve crimes, such as digital forensics, malware analysis and video analytics. Fourth, formation of specialised units. The Police set up the Transnational Commercial Crime Task Force (TCTF) in October 2017 to tackle transnational online and phone scams. We have seen good results. TCTF has closed over 600 bank accounts and recovered more than S$1.5 million. The Police also set up an E-Commerce Fraud Enforcement and Coordination Team (E-FECT) in November 2018. Within two months of its formation, E-FECT arrested 26 e-commerce scammers and solved more than 230 e-commerce scams. To prevent scams, the Police have been working very closely with stakeholders, such as convenience stores, remittance agencies and banks, to raise their awareness and develop suitable prevention measures.”