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Corporal punishment is still widely used in Singapore, and it has now been extended to cybercriminals. This was prompted by tens of thousands of cases of online fraud, which caused total damages exceeding $385 million in the first half of 2025.
According to The Washington Post, the city-state's parliament approved corresponding amendments to its criminal legislation.
Fraud in various forms remains the most common crime in Singapore, accounting for up to 60% of all offenses. Authorities are particularly concerned about the activities of scam syndicates, some of which have even attempted to legalize their operations in the country. Now, their activities, including recruiting participants, will also fall under the new regulations.
[td]"Offenders who commit online fraud will be punished with a minimum of six strokes of a rattan cane," said Singapore's Home Affairs Minister Sim En. The maximum penalty is 24 strokes.[/td]In Singapore, corporal punishment is prescribed for 65 types of crimes and offenses, including theft, robbery, and, until recently, vandalism. This practice dates back to the British colonial era and is regularly criticized by human rights organizations.
According to The Washington Post, the city-state's parliament approved corresponding amendments to its criminal legislation.
Fraud in various forms remains the most common crime in Singapore, accounting for up to 60% of all offenses. Authorities are particularly concerned about the activities of scam syndicates, some of which have even attempted to legalize their operations in the country. Now, their activities, including recruiting participants, will also fall under the new regulations.