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Singapore: Judicial and prison caning

Table of offences for which caning is available

Updated to mid-2011





OFFENCES FOR WHICH JUDICIAL CANING IS AVAILABLE IN SINGAPORE

Note: Where a minimum number of strokes is stated, caning is mandatory for that offence.


Drugs offences

Minimum strokes

Maximum strokes *

Offence

Legislation

Year enacted

  2

  15

Trafficking of a minimum quantity of drugs

35 and 33 Misuse of Drugs Act

1973

  5

  15

Unauthorised import or export of drugs

S7 and 33 Misuse of Drugs Act

1973

  3

  12

Repeat consumption of specified drugs

S33A Misuse of Drugs Act

1998

  5

  15

Unauthorised manufacture of drugs

Misuse of Drugs Act

1973


Robbery and other property offences

Minimum strokes

Maximum strokes *

Offence

Legislation

Year enacted

 Nil

  24

Piratical acts

S130C Penal Code

1973

  12

  24

Piracy

S130B Penal Code

1993

  12

  24

Robbery

S392 Penal Code

1871; mandatory (6 strokes) 1973; increased to 12 strokes 1984 if committed after 7pm and before 7am

  12

  24

Voluntarily causing hurt in committing robbery

S394 Penal Code

1871; mandatory (6 strokes) 1973; increased to 12 strokes 1984

  12

  24

Gang robbery

S395 Penal Code

1871; mandatory (6 strokes) 1973; increased to 12 strokes 1984

  12

  24

Gang robbery with murder

S396 Penal Code

1871; mandatory (10 strokes) in 1973; increased to 12 strokes in 1984

  12

  24

Robbery when armed or with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt

S397 Penal code

1871; mandatory (10 strokes) in 1973; increased to 12 strokes in 1984

  12

  24

Making preparation to commit gang robbery

S399 Penal code

1871; mandatory (6 strokes) in 1973; increased to 12 strokes in 1984

  6

  24

Attempt to commit robbery

S393 Penal Code

1959; mandatory (4 strokes) in 1973; increased to 6 strokes in 1984

  6

  24

Belonging to gang of robbers

S400 Penal code

1871; mandatory in 1973

  4

  24

Belonging to wandering gang of thieves

S401 Penal Code

1973

  4

  24

Assembling for the purpose of committing gang robbery

S402 Penal Code

1973

  3

  24

Theft after preparation made for causing death or hurt in order to commit theft

S378 and 382 Penal Code

1973

  1

  24

Lurking house trespass or house breaking by night after preparation made for causing hurt

S443-46 and 458 Penal Code

1871, made mandatory in 1984

  1

  24

Subsequent offence of

(a) lurking house trespass or house breaking in order to commit and offence punishable by imprisonment, or

(b) lurking house trespass by night or housebreaking by night in order to commit an offence punishable by imprisonment

S458A Penal Code

1984

  1

  24

Grievous hurt caused while committing lurking house trespass or house breaking

S459 Penal Code

1871, made mandatory in 1984


Weapons and explosives offences

Minimum strokes

Maximum strokes *

Offence

Legislation

Year enacted

  6

  24

Unlawful possession of arms or ammunition

S3 Arms Offences Act

1973

  6

  24

Trafficking in arms

S6 Arms Offences Act

1973

  6

  24

Possession of corrosive or explosive substance for the purpose of causing hurt

S3 Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act

1973

  6

  24

Using a corrosive or explosive substance or offensive weapon

S4 Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act

1973

  6

  24

Consorting with persons carrying corrosive or explosive weapon

S5 Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act

1973

  6

  24

Carrying offensive weapon in a public place

S6 Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act

1973

  6

  24

Offences relating to scheduled weapons

S7 Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act

1973

  6

  24

Consorting with persons carrying offensive weapons in public places

S3 Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act

1973

  3

  24

Exhibiting imitation arms when committing scheduled offence

S8 Arms Offences Act

1973

  Nil

  24

Possession of arms, explosives or poisonous gas for the purpose of committing an offence under the Penal Code

S13 Arms and Explosives Act

1952

  Nil

  24

Causing explosion likely to endanger life and property

S3 Explosive Substances Act

1970

  Nil

  24

Attempt to cause explosion, or making or keeping explosives with intent to endanger life or property

S4 Explosive Substances Act

1970

  Nil

  24

Making or possessing explosives under suspicious circumstances

S5 Explosive Substances Act

1970

  Nil

  24

Abetment of above three offences

S6 Explosive Substances Act

 

  Nil

  24

Using offensive weapons, explosive, corrosive or inflammable substances

S22 Public Order (Preservation) Act

1958

  Nil

  24

Consorting with person using offensive weapons, explosive, corrosive or inflammable substances

S23 Public Order (Preservation) Act

1958

  Nil

  24

Carrying, etc., offensive weapons, explosive, corrosive or inflammable substances in a proclaimed area

S24 Public Order (Preservation) Act

1958

  1

  6

Sale, transport, delivery, distribution or import of fireworks

S4 Dangerous Fireworks Act

1988

  1

  6

Second or subsequent offence of discharge of fireworks

S6 Dangerous Fireworks Act

1988


Immigration offences

Minimum strokes

Maximum strokes *

Offence

Legislation

Year enacted

  3

  24

Entering or remaining in Singapore without a valid pass

S6, 11A Immigration Act

1989

  3

  24

Illegal overstayers for a period exceeding 90 days

S15 Immigration Act

1989

  3

  24

Engaged in business of conveying into Singapore and prohibited immigrant

S57(c) Immigration Act

1989

  3

  24

Knowingly employing more than 5 illegal immigrants

S57(e) Immigration Act

1989


Offences relating to financial affairs

Minimum strokes

Maximum strokes *

Offence

Legislation

Year enacted

  1

  24

Extortion

S383 and 384 Penal Code

1954, made mandatory in 1984

  1

  24

Extortion by putting a person in fear of harm

S385 Penal code

2007

  1

  24

Putting person in fear of death or grievous hurt in order to commit extortion

S386 Penal Code

1954

  Nil

  24

Extortion by threat of accusation of an offence punishable with death or imprisonment, etc.

S388 Penal code

1954

  Nil

  24

Putting a person in fear of accusation of an offence, in order to commit extortion

S389 Penal Code

1954

  Nil

  12

Unlicensed moneylending

S14 Moneylenders Act

2008

  3

  18

Harassing borrower

S28 Moneylenders Act

2005


Sexual offences

Minimum strokes

Maximum strokes *

Offence

Legislation

Year enacted

  Nil

  24

Rape

S375+ Penal code

1871

  12

  24

Voluntarily causing hurt or putting person in fear of death or hurt in order to commit rape; or statutory rape of a woman under 14 years of age

S376 Penal Code

1871 (1984)

  1

  24

Voluntarily causing or attempting to cause death, hurt or wrongful restraint in order to outrage modesty

S354A(1) Penal Code

1871

  Nil

  24

Assault or use of criminal force to a person with intent to outrage modesty

S354 Penal Code

1860

  1

  24

Assault or use of criminal force to a person with intent to outrage modesty in a lift or against any person under 14 years of age

S354A(2) Penal code

1984

  Nil

  24

Sexual penetration of a corpse

S377 Penal code

2007

  Nil

  24

Sexual penetration with a living animal

S377B Penal code

2007

  Nil

  24

Second or subsequent offence relating to prostitution

S140(2) Women's Charter

1961

  Nil

  24

Second or subsequent offence of living on or trading in prostitution

S146(2) Women's Charter

1961

  Nil

  24

Sexual penetration without consent

S376 Penal Code

2007

  12

  24

Sexual penetration of a minor

S376A Penal Code

2007


Public order offences

Minimum strokes

Maximum strokes *

Offence

Legislation

Year enacted

  Nil

  24

Rioting

S146 + 147 Penal code

1973

  Nil

  24

Rioting armed with a deadly weapon

S148 Penal Code

1973

  3

  8

Vandalism (writing, drawing, painting marking or inscribing on any public or private property without permission and stealing destroying or damaging any public property)

S3 Vandalism Act

1966

  Nil

  24

Every member of an unlawful assembly shall be deemed guilty of rioting if committed in prosecution of a common object

S149 Penal Code

 

  Nil

  24

Joining an unlawful assembly armed with a deadly weapon

S144 Penal Code

2008

  Nil

  24

Person who hires, or connives at hiring, others to join an unlawful assembly punishable as a member of such unlawful assembly

S150 Penal Code

 


Offences against the person

Minimum strokes

Maximum strokes *

Offence

Legislation

Year enacted

  Nil

  24

Culpable homicide not amounting to murder

S299 + 304 Penal Code

1860

  Nil

  24

Attempt to murder

S307 Penal Code

1973

  Nil

  24

Attempt to commit culpable homicide

S308 Penal Code

2007

  Nil

  24

Assault or criminal force in committing or attempting to commit theft of property carried by a person

S356 Penal Code

1871

  Nil

  24

Voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means

S324 Penal Code

1973

  Nil

  24

Voluntarily causing hurt to extort confession or to compel restoration of property

S330, 331 Penal Code

1973, 2007

  Nil

  24

Voluntarily causing grievous hurt

S325 Penal Code

1973

  Nil

  24

Voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means

S326 Penal Code

1973

  Nil

  24

Voluntarily causing hurt to extort property or to constrain to an illegal act

S329 Penal Code

1871

  Nil

  24

Voluntarily causing grievous hurt to extort a confession or to compel restoration of property

S331 Penal Code

1973

  Nil

  24

Voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from his duty

S332 Penal Code

1973

  Nil

  24

Voluntarily causing grievous hurt to deter a public servant from his duty

S333 Penal Code

1973

  Nil

  24

Causing hurt by means of poison, etc., with intent to commit an offence

S328 Penal Code

2008


Kidnapping offences

Minimum strokes

Maximum strokes *

Offence

Legislation

Year enacted

  Nil

  24

Kidnapping

S359+363 Penal code

1958

  Nil

  24

Kidnapping or abducting in order to murder

S364 Penal Code

1958

  Nil

  24

Kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine a person

S365 Penal code

1958

  Nil

  24

Kidnapping or abducting a woman to compel her to marriage etc.

S366 Penal code

1958

  Nil

  24

Kidnapping or abducting in order to subject a person to grievous hurt, slavery, etc.

S367 Penal code

1958

  Nil

  24

Wrongfully concealing or keeping in confinement a kidnapped person

S368 Penal code

1958

  Nil

  24

Kidnapping or abducting a child under 10 years with intent to steal movable property from the person of such child

S369 Penal code

1958

  Nil

  24

Abduction, wrongful restraint or wrongful confinement for ransom

S3 Kidnapping Act

1961

  Nil

  24

Knowingly receiving ransom

S4 Kidnapping Act

1961

  Nil

  24

Knowingly negotiating to obtain ransom

S5 (1) Kidnapping Act

1961

  Nil

  24

Hostage-taking

Hostage-taking Act

2010


Transport offences

Minimum strokes

Maximum strokes *

Offence

Legislation

Year enacted

Nil

24

Intentionally obstructing railway engine or carriages or endangering safety of passengers

S86 Railways Act

1905

Nil

24

Wilful act or omission endangering railway passengers

S87 Railways Act

1905

Nil

6

Third or subsequent offence of reckless driving, drunken driving or driving while under suspension if death or serious injury is caused

S67A Road Traffic Act

1993

* Note that the maximum number of strokes of caning, unless fixed in the particular Act imposing the punishment, is 24 strokes by virtue of S229(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code.




DISCIPLINARY OFFENCES IN PRISON

Min

Max

Prison offence

Act

Year Enacted

Nil

12 (or 24*)

Punishment by Superintendent of aggravated offences

The following are deemed to be aggravated prison offences:

(1) mutiny;

(2) escape or attempt to escape;

(3) taking part in any assault or attack on any officer;

(4) aggravated or repeated assault on any other prisoner;

(5) wilful destruction of prison property;

(6) wilfully causing to himself any illness, injury or disability;

(7) wilfully making a false or groundless accusation or complaint against any officer or prisoner;

(7A) any act constituting a minor prison offence under section 72, committed by one or more members or associates of a secret society in connection with the activities of any secret society;

(8) repetition of any minor prison offence(+) after having been twice punished for the same minor offence;

(9) failure by a prisoner subject to a home detention order under section 52 to report to such person and at such times and place as may be specified under the conditions of the order;

(10) where a prisoner subject to a home detention order under section 52 is required under the conditions of the order to allow the Superintendent or any person authorised by the Superintendent to enter his place of residence, or any other place or places designated under the order, the refusal by the prisoner to allow the entry, or obstructing or hindering the entry, of such person;

(11) any other act of gross misconduct or insubordination;

(12) abetting the commission of any aggravated prison offence.

+ Minor offences comprise:

(1) talking during working hours, or talking loudly, laughing or singing at any time after having been ordered by an officer of the prison to desist;

(2) quarrelling with any other prisoner;

(3) secreting any article whatever;

(4) showing disrespect to any officer or official visitor;

(5) common assault or taking part in any attack on any other prisoner;

(6) answering untruthfully any question put by an officer or an official visitor;

(7) holding any communication (in writing, by word of mouth, or otherwise) with any person in disobedience of the regulations of the prison;

(8) abetting the commission of any minor prison offence;

(9) omitting to assist in the maintenance of discipline by reporting any prison offence, or to give assistance to an officer when called on to do so;

(10) doing any act or using any language calculated to wound or offend the feelings and prejudices of any other prisoner;

(11) doing any act calculated to create any unnecessary alarm in the minds of the prisoners or officers;

(12) leaving without permission of an officer the group to which he is attached, or the part of the prison in which he is confined;

(13) leaving without permission of an officer the ward, the yard, the place in file, the seat or berth assigned to him;

(14) loitering about the yards or lingering in the wards when these are open;

(15) omitting or refusing to march in file when moving about the prison or proceeding to or returning from work;

(16) visiting the toilets without permission of an officer or remaining there longer than is necessary;

(17) refusing to eat the meals provided;

(18) eating or appropriating any food not assigned to him or taking from or adding to the portions assigned to other prisoners;

(19) removing without permission of an officer food from the cook-room or from the place where meals are served, or disobeying any order as to the issue and distribution of food and drink;

(20) wilfully destroying food or throwing it away without orders;

(21) introducing into food or drink anything likely to render it unpalatable or unwholesome;

(22) omitting or refusing to wear the clothing given to him, or exchanging any portion of it for the clothing of other prisoners, or losing, discarding, damaging or altering any part of it;

(23) removing, defacing or altering any distinctive number, mark or badge attached to, or worn on, the clothing or person;

(24) omitting or refusing to keep the person clean, or disobeying any order regulating the cutting of hair;

(25) omitting or refusing to keep clothing, blankets, bedding, fetters, or utensils clean, or disobeying any order as to the arrangement or disposition of such articles;

(26) tampering in any way with prison locks, lamps or lights or other property with which he has no concern;

(27) stealing the prison clothing or any part of the prison kit of any other prisoner;

(28) committing a nuisance in any part of the prison;

(29) spitting on or otherwise soiling any floor, door, wall or other part of the prison building or any article in the prison;

(30) wilfully befouling the toilets, washing or bathing places;

(31) damaging the trees within the enclosure of the prison;

(32) omitting or refusing to take due care of all prison property entrusted to him;

(33) omitting or refusing to take due care of, or injuring, or misappropriating, the materials and implements entrusted to him for work;

(34) omitting to report at once any loss, breakage or damage which he may have caused to prison property or implements;

(35) manufacturing any article without the knowledge or permission of an officer;

(36) performing any portion of the task allotted to another prisoner, or obtaining the assistance of another prisoner in the performance of his own task;

(37) appropriating any portion of the task performed by another prisoner;

(38) mixing or adding any foreign substance to the materials issued for work;

(39) cursing or swearing, or using indecent, violent, threatening or insulting language;

(40) causing or omitting to assist in suppressing violence or insubordination of any kind;

(41) immoral, disorderly or indecent behaviour;

(42) omitting or refusing to help any prison officer in case of an attempted escape or of an attack upon such officer or upon another prisoner;

(43) disobeying any lawful order of an officer;

(44) idling or refusing to work or showing negligence in the performance of his allotted task;

(45) defacing or damaging the walls, furniture or other property of the prison;

(46) malingering;

(47) refusing to undergo medical treatment;

(48) any breach by a prisoner subject to a home detention order under section 52 of the conditions of the order other than conduct constituting an aggravated prison offence specified in section 73;

(49) any other act, conduct, disorder or neglect to the prejudice of good order or discipline though not specified in the preceding paragraphs.

S.71 Prisons Act: * Note that under s74 if the Superintendent feels that 12 strokes are inadequate, he may refer the matter to the Visiting Justice, who may impose up to 24 strokes
S72 Prisons Act

1871


ARMED FORCES OFFENCES

*Note that a subordinate military court may impose a maximum of 12 strokes of the cane

Min

Max

Offence

Act

Year Enacted

Nil

12

Disobedience of or non-compliance with lawful orders, etc.

S17 + 118(5) Singapore Armed Forces Act

1975

Nil

12

Insubordinate behaviour

S19 + 118(5) Singapore Armed Forces Act

1975

Nil

12

Disobedience of general orders

S21 + 118(5) Singapore Armed Forces Act

1975

Nil

12

Absence without leave

S22 + 118(5) Singapore Armed Forces Act

1975

Nil

12

Desertion

S23 + 118(5) Singapore Armed Forces Act

1975

Nil

12

Escape and permitting escape and unlawful release from custody

S47 + 118(5) Singapore Armed Forces Act

1975

Nil

12

Aggravated disciplinary barrack offences
(namely)—

(a) mutiny as defined in section 15;

(b) escape or attempt to escape;

(c) striking or otherwise using violence to, or offering violence to, any person superior in rank or on the staff of the disciplinary barrack;

(d) aggravated or repeated assault on any other person serving special detention in a disciplinary barrack;

(e) wilful destruction of Singapore Armed Forces property;

(f) wilfully causing self-illness, self-injury or disability;

(g) wilfully making a false or groundless complaint against any person superior in rank or on the staff of the disciplinary barrack;

(h) repetition of any minor disciplinary barrack offence after having been twice punished for such minor offence;

(i) any other act of gross misconduct or insubordination; or

(j) abetting the commission of any aggravated disciplinary barrack offence.

S119  Singapore Armed Forces Act

1975


DRUG REHABILITATION CENTRE OFFENCES

Min

Max

Offence

Act

Year Enacted

Nil

  6

Any "major offence"

Misuse of Drugs (Approved Institutions) (Discipline) Regulations

1979



blob Main feature article: Judicial caning in Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei

blob External links to documents on aspects of Singapore's JCP regime: Web links: Judicial CP

blob Numerous reports of Singapore court sentences involving caning: "Singapore - Judicial" in The Archive


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