ISTANBUL 

Singapore will impose caning as part of mandatory punishment for scammers under a new criminal law ratified Tuesday, after the nation lost nearly $4 billion to scams over the past six years.

Those convicted of running or aiding scam syndicates will face at least six strokes of the cane, in addition to fines and prison terms, Singaporean daily The Straits Times reported.

The maximum punishment is 24 strokes, depending on the severity of the offense.

Under the new law, syndicate members, recruiters, and accomplices – including money mules who provide bank accounts, SIM cards, or digital identities – will also be held accountable.

Singapore has lost more than $3.4 billion to scams since 2019. In 2024 alone, victims lost a record $1.1 billion, with another $600 million reported lost from January to August this year.

Other amendments in the bill include tougher penalties on sexual offenses, fatal abuse of vulnerable victims, doxxing of public servants, and the distribution of obscene material.

Those who circulate obscene content to 10 or more people can face up to two years in prison – or up to four years if the offender is under 18.

For sexual grooming, the maximum jail term will rise to seven years for victims under 14 and five years for those aged 14 to 17. Singapore’s jurisdiction will also expand to cover cases where offenders or victims travel abroad.

The maximum jail time for those who fatally abuse vulnerable victims has also been increased from 20 years to 30 years or life imprisonment.