Penal Code (Singapore)

Penal Code
Parliament House, Singapore
Governor of the Straits Settlements with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council
show Long title An Act to consolidate the law relating to criminal offences.
Citation	Ordinance No. 4 of 1871 (Straits Settlements); now Cap. 224, 2008 Rev. Ed.
Enacted by	Governor of the Straits Settlements with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council
Enacted	1871 Indian Penal Code
Commenced	16 September 1872
Amended by
Penal Code (Amendment) Act 2007 (No. 51 of 2007) Penal Code (Amendment) Act 2012 (No. 32 of 2012) Criminal Law Reform Act 2019 (No. 15 of 2019)

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The Penal Code of Singapore^[1] sets out general principles^[2] of the criminal law of Singapore, as well as the elements and penalties of general criminal offences such as assault, criminal intimidation, mischief, grievous hurt, theft, extortion, sex crimes and cheating.^[3] The Penal Code does not define and list exhaustively all the criminal offences applicable in Singapore – a large number of these are created by other statutes such as the Arms Offences Act,^[4] Kidnapping Act,^[5] Misuse of Drugs Act^[6] and Vandalism Act.^[7]

History[]

For most of the 19th century the criminal law which applied in the Straits Settlements (comprising Prince of Wales' Island (Penang), Singapore and Malacca) was that of the United Kingdom, insofar as local circumstances permitted. There was little doubt that at the time English common law crimes were recognized in these territories. However, due to problems such as doubts as to the applicability of Indian Acts, in 1871 the Straits Settlements Penal Code 1871^[8] was enacted. It came into operation on 16 September 1872. The Code was practically a re-enactment of the Indian Penal Code.

Over the years, the Penal Code has been amended several times. In 1973, punishments for certain offences were enhanced, and by the Penal Code (Amendment) Act 1984,^{[citation needed]} which came into effect on 31 August 1984, mandatory minimum penalties were introduced for certain offences.

This section may be too long and excessively detailed. Please consider summarizing the material while citing sources as needed. (December 2020)

Selected provisions[]

The Penal Code has over 500 sections, and is divided into the following 24 chapters:

Chapter I: Preliminary.

Chapter II: General Explanations.

Chapter III: Punishments.

Chapter IV: General Exceptions.

Chapter IVA: Right of Private Defence.

Chapter V: Abetment.

Chapter VA: Criminal Conspiracy.

Chapter VI: Offences Against the State.

Chapter VIA: Piracy.

Chapter VII: Offences Relating to the Armed Forces.

Chapter VIII: Offences Against the Public Tranquillity.

Chapter IX: Offences By or Relating to Public Servants.

Chapter X: Contempts of the Authority of Public Servants.

Chapter XI: False Evidence and Offences Against Public Justice.

Chapter XII: Offences Relating to Government Stamps.

[Chapter XIII is repealed.]

Chapter XIV: Offences Affecting the Public Tranquility, Public Health, Safety, Convenience, Decency and Morals.

Chapter XV: Offences Relating to Religion.

Chapter XVI: Offences Affecting the Human Body.

Offences Affecting Life.

Causing Miscarriage; Injuries to Unborn Children; Exposure of Infants; and Concealment of Births.

Hurt.

Wrongful Restraint and Wrongful Confinement.

Criminal Force and Assault.

Kidnapping, Abduction, Slavery and Forced Labour.

Sexual Offences.

Chapter XVII: Offences Affecting Property.

Theft.

Extortion.

Robbery and Gang-Robbery.

Criminal Misappropriation of Property.

Criminal Breach of Trust.

Receiving Stolen Property.

Cheating.

Fraudulent Deeds and Dispositions of Property.

Mischief.

Criminal Trespass.

Chapter XVIII: Offences Relating to Documents and to Currency Notes and Bank Notes.

Currency Notes and Bank Notes.

[There is no Chapter XIX.]

Chapter XX: Offences Relating to Marriage.

Chapter XXI: Defamation.

Chapter XXII: Criminal Intimidation, Insult and Annoyance.

Chapter XXIII: Attempts to Commit Offences.

The Penal Code defines the elements of each offence and prescribes the maximum, and occasionally also the minimum, penalties for it. The basic form of an offence (commonly referred to as the 'simple offence' or, using Latin terminology, as the 'offence simpliciter') has the lowest penalties. More serious forms of the offence are defined as separate offences and attract stiffer penalties.

For instance, theft is defined in section 378 of the Code, and section 379 makes simple theft (or theft simpliciter) an offence punishable with imprisonment of up to three years or with fine or both. Section 379A punishes the theft of a motor vehicle or any component part of a motor vehicle with imprisonment of not less than one year and not more than seven years and a fine. Sections 380 and 381 respectively make it offences to commit theft in any building, tent or vessel which is used as a human dwelling or for the custody of property; and, while being a clerk or servant, or being employed in the capacity of a clerk or servant, to commit theft of any property in the possession of one's master or employer. In both cases the penalty is imprisonment of up to seven years and a fine. The most serious theft offence is that of committing theft, having made preparation for causing death or hurt or restraint, or fear of death or of hurt or of restraint, to any person in order to commit the theft, or in order to effect an escape after committing the theft, or in order to retain property taken by the theft. The maximum penalty is imprisonment for up to ten years and caning with not less than three strokes.

Some salient aspects of the Penal Code and commonly-encountered criminal offences are described in the sub-sections below.

Chapter III: Punishments[]

• Punishments – Offenders are liable to any of these penalties in the Code:

(a) Death

(b) Imprisonment

(c) Forfeiture of property

(d) Fine

(e) Caning with a rattan.^[9]

• Imprisonment for life – Defined as imprisonment for the duration of a person’s natural life.^[10]
• Punishment of a person found guilty of one of several offences, the judgment stating that it is doubtful of which – If a person is guilty of one of several offences in the judgement, but that there are doubts over the offences the person is guilty of, the offender shall be punished for the offence with the lowest punishment provided, if the same punishment is not provided for all.^[11]
• Enhanced penalties for offences against domestic workers –

(1) If an employer of a domestic worker, a member of the employer’s household or an employment agent of a domestic worker is convicted of an offence under this Code committed against a domestic worker, a sentence of up to twice the maximum punishment of the offence may be imposed on the offender by the court.

(2) This section does not apply when offender (A) proves that, despite A being the domestic worker's (B) employer, a member of B’s employer’s household or B's employment agent, the relationship between A and B did not adversely affect B’s ability to protect herself from A in terms of the harm caused by the offence.

(3) Despite anything to the contrary in the Criminal Procedure Code —

(a) a Magistrate’s Court can try the offences in subsection (1), where there is no imprisonment or where twice the maximum term of imprisonment imposed for the offence does not exceed 5 years, and has power to impose the full punishment provided for those offences; and

(b) a District Court can try the offences in subsection (1) and has power to impose the full punishment provided for those offences.

(4) This section outlines the definition of terms used.^[12]

• Enhanced penalties for racially or religiously aggravated offences –

(1) If a person is convicted of a racially or religiously aggravated offence listed in subsection (2), a sentence of up to one and a half times the maximum punishment of the offence may be imposed on the offender by the court.

(2) The offences listed in subsection (1) are defined as:

(a) offences under sections 143, 144, 145, 147, 148, 151, 153, 158, 267B, 267C, 323, 324, 325, 341, 342, 346, 352, 354, 355, 357, 363A, 376ED, 376EE, 377BA, 377BB, 377BC, 377BD, 377BE, 377BF, 504, 505, 506 or 507 or

(b) attempting to commit, abetting the commission of, or being a party to a criminal conspiracy to commit, any offence under paragraph (a).

(3) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Criminal Procedure Code —

(a) a Magistrate’s Court can hear and determine all proceedings for offences punishable under sections 143, 151, 153, 323, 346, 354(1), 355, 504, 505 and 507 and has power to impose the full punishment provided under subsection (1) for those offences; and

(b) a District Court can hear and determine all proceedings for offences punishable under sections 144, 145, 147, 148, 158, 267C, 324, 325, 354(2), 363A and 506 and has power to impose the full punishment provided under subsection (1) for those offences.

(4) An offence is racially or religiously aggravated if —

(a) at the time of committing the offence, or immediately before or after committing such offence, the offender demonstrates towards the victim of the offence hostility based on the victim’s membership (or presumed membership) of a racial or religious group; or

(b) the offence is motivated (wholly or partly) by hostility towards members of a racial or religious group based on their membership of that group.

(5) It is immaterial for the purposes of paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (4) whether or not the offender’s hostility is also based, to any extent, on any other factor not mentioned in that paragraph.

(6) This section outlines the definition of terms used.^[13]

• Enhanced penalties for offences against vulnerable persons –

(1) This section applies where a person is convicted on or after the Vulnerable Adults Act 2018 took effect of an offence listed in subsection (3) against a vulnerable person.

(2) A sentence not exceeding twice the maximum punishment of the offence may be imposed on the offender by the court, if at the time of committing the offence the offender knew or ought reasonably to have known that the victim was a vulnerable person.

(2A) This section does not apply when the offender proves that despite being a vulnerable person the victim was capable of protecting himself from the offender in respect of the harm caused by the offence in the same manner as an ordinary person who is not a vulnerable person.

(3) The offence to which this section applies is any offence under this Code which may be committed against a vulnerable person except an offence —

(a) under section 304B, 304C, 335A or 376F; or

(b) punishable with death or life imprisonment.

(4) Despite anything to the contrary in the Criminal Procedure Code —

(a) a Magistrate’s Court can try the offences specified in subsection (3), where there is no imprisonment or where twice the maximum term of imprisonment imposed for the offence does not exceed 5 years, and has power to impose the full punishment provided under subsection (2) for those offences; and

(b) a District Court can try the offences specified in subsection (3) and has power to impose the full punishment provided under subsection (2) for those offences.

(5) This section outlines the definition of terms used based on the Vulnerable Adults Act 2018.^[14]

• Enhanced penalties for offences against person below 14 years of age –

(1) Subsection (2) applies to any offence under this Code which may be committed against a person below 14 years of age except where —

(a) explicitly stated that an enhanced or mandatory minimum sentence will apply to the offence when committed against a person below 14 years of age;

(b) the offence is under section 304B, 304C, 377BG, 377BH, 377BI, 377BJ or 377BK; or

(c) the offence is punishable with death or life imprisonment.

(2) If any person commits an offence under this Code against a person below 14 years of age, a sentence not exceeding twice the maximum punishment of the offence may be imposed on the offender by the court, if at the time of committing the offence the offender knew or ought reasonably to have known that the victim was a person below 14 years of age.

(3) This section does not apply when the offender proves that the victim despite being a person below 14 years of age, was capable of protecting himself from the offender in respect of the harm caused by the offence in the same manner as a person of or above 14 years of age.

(4) Despite anything to the contrary in the Criminal Procedure Code —

(a) a Magistrate’s Court can try the offences to which subsection (2) applies, where there is no imprisonment or where twice the maximum term of imprisonment imposed for the offence does not exceed 5 years, and has power to impose the full punishment provided under subsection (2) for those offences; and

(b) a District Court can try the offences to which subsection (2) applies and has power to impose the full punishment provided under subsection (2) for those offences.^[15]

• Enhanced penalties for offences against victims in intimate relationships –

(1) Subsection (2) applies where an offender (A) is convicted of any offence under Chapter XVI (except an offence punishable with death or life imprisonment) committed against a person (B) who was or is in an intimate relationship with A.

(2) When A commits an offence against B, a sentence not exceeding twice the maximum punishment of the offence may be imposed on the offender by the court, if at the time of committing the offence A knew or ought reasonably to have known that B was or is in an intimate relationship with A.

(3) This section does not apply when A proves that, despite A having been or being in an intimate relationship with B, the relationship between A and B did not adversely affect B’s ability to protect B from A in respect of the harm caused by the offence.

(4) Despite anything to the contrary in the Criminal Procedure Code —

(a) a Magistrate’s Court can try the offences to which subsection (2) applies, where there is no imprisonment or where twice the maximum term of imprisonment imposed for the offence does not exceed 5 years, and has power to impose the full punishment provided under subsection (2) for those offences; and

(b) a District Court can try the offences to which subsection (2) applies and has power to impose the full punishment provided under subsection (2) for those offences.

(5) For this section, the court may determine if the offender (A) was or is in an intimate relationship with the victim (B) considering all circumstances of the case, including the following factors, if A and B:

(a) live in the same household, which is not necessary to prove;

(b) share tasks and duties of their daily lives;

(c) made arrangements to share expenses or financial support and the degree of financial dependence or interdependence;

(d) have a sexual relationship, which is not necessary to prove;

(e) share the care and support of a person below 21 years of age;

(f) show their friends, relatives or other persons as parties to an intimate relationship, and whether they are treated by their friends, relatives or other persons as such parties.^[16]

• Enhanced penalties for offences against victims in close relationships –

(1) Subsection (2) applies where an offender (A) is convicted of any offence under Chapter XVI (except an offence punishable with death or life imprisonment) committed against a person (B) who was or is in a close relationship with A.

(2) When A commits an offence against B, a sentence not exceeding twice the maximum punishment of the offence may be imposed on the offender by the court, if at the time of committing the offence A knew or ought reasonably to have known that B was or is in a close relationship with A.

(3) This section does not apply when A proves that, despite A having been or being in a close relationship with B, the relationship between A and B did not adversely affect B’s ability to protect B from A in respect of the harm caused by the offence.

(4) Despite anything to the contrary in the Criminal Procedure Code —

(a) a Magistrate’s Court can try the offences to which subsection (2) applies, where there is no imprisonment or where twice the maximum term of imprisonment imposed for the offence does not exceed 5 years, and has power to impose the full punishment provided under subsection (2) for those offences; and

(b) a District Court can try the offences to which subsection (2) applies and has power to impose the full punishment provided under subsection (2) for those offences.

(5) In this section, offender (A) was or is in a close relationship with victim (B), when A and B —

(a) are members of the same household; and

(b) had frequent contact with each other.

(6) For the purposes of subsection (5), A and B are to be treated as members of the same household if —

(a) they live in the same household; or

(b) they do not live in the same household, but A or B visits the household to which the other belongs so often and for such periods of time that it is reasonable to regard A and B as members of the same household.^[17]

• Application of enhanced penalties –

(1) If 2 or more of the sections from sections 73 to 74D are applicable to enhance the punishment for an offence which the offender would otherwise have been liable for —

(a) not more than one section will be used to enhance the punishment for the same offence; and

(b) the court will determine which section to apply to enhance the punishment.

(2) If the punishment imposed for an offence is —

(a) a specified minimum sentence or mandatory minimum sentence of imprisonment or caning, sections 73 to 74D does not apply to enhance the punishment; and

(b) a caning sentence, sections 73 to 74D does not apply to enhance the maximum number of cane strokes imposed.^[18]

Chapter IV: General exceptions[]

An act does not constitute a criminal offence if any of the following general exceptions applies:

• Act done by person bound, or justified by law – If it is done by a person who is bound by law to do it or justified by law in doing it.^[19]
• Judge acting judicially – If it is done by a judge when acting judicially in the exercise of any power which is, or which in good faith he believes to be, given to him by law.^[20]
• Act done pursuant to judgment or order of court – If it is done in pursuance of, or which is warranted by the judgment or order of a court of justice, if done while the judgment or order remains in force, notwithstanding the court may have had no jurisdiction to pass the judgment or order, provided the person doing the act in good faith believes that the court had such jurisdiction.^[21]
• Act done by person by mistake of fact believing himself bound or justified by law – If it is done by any person who by reason of a mistake of fact or in ignorance of a fact in good faith believes that he is bound or justified by law to do it, unless stated otherwise by law. Despite that, when a mistake or ignorance of fact negates the fault element required to establish liability for an offence, then to avoid doubt, that offence is not made out.^[22]
• Accident – If it is done by accident or misfortune in the doing of a lawful act in a lawful manner, by lawful means, and with proper care and caution. Despite that, when the facts relied upon to establish the defence in this sentence will, when proven, negate the fault element required to establish liability under an offence, then to avoid doubt, that offence is not made out.^[23]
• Act done to prevent other harm – If, merely by reason of its being done with the knowledge that it is likely to cause harm, it is done in good faith for the purpose of preventing or avoiding other harm to person or property.^[24]
• Act of a child under 10 years – If it is done by a child under 10 years of age.^[25]
• Act of a child of or above 10 years and below 12 years who has not sufficient maturity of understanding – If it is done by a child of or above 10 and below 12, who has not attained sufficient maturity of understanding to judge of the nature and consequence of his conduct on that occasion.^[26]
• Unsoundness of mind – If it is done by a person who, at the time of doing it, by reason of unsoundness of mind, is

(a) incapable of knowing the nature of the act;

(b) incapable of knowing that what he is doing is wrong (whether wrong by the ordinary standards of reasonable and honest persons or wrong as contrary to law); or

(c) completely deprived of any power to control his actions.^[27]

• Intoxication – If by reason of intoxication the person charged at the time of the act or omission complained of —

(a) did not know what he was doing; or

(b) did not know that such act or omission was wrong (whether wrong by the ordinary standards of reasonable and honest persons or wrong as contrary to law),

and the intoxication being caused without knowledge or against the will of a person charged with an offence. In addition, intoxication can be a defence to criminal charges if the person was of unsound mind at the time of offences as per section 84.^[28]

• Consent –
  • If a person above 18 years of age has given consent, whether express or implied, to suffer harm or to take the risk of harm, provided that the act is not intended to cause death or grievous hurt, and is not known by the doer to be likely to cause death or grievous hurt.^[29]
  • If an act is done to a person for his benefit in good faith, and the person has given consent, whether express or implied, to suffer harm or to take the risk of harm, provided that the act is not intended to cause death.^[30]
  • If an act is done in good faith for the benefit of a person under 12 years of age, or of unsound mind, by or by consent, either express or implied, of the guardian or other person having lawful charge of that person.^[31]
  • However, a consent can be negated if given under fear of injury or wrongful restraint to any person or other people, under misconception of facts, by a person who is of unsound mind, mental incapacity, under intoxication or influence of a drug or any substance, and by a person under 12 years of age.^[32]
  • Exceptions under sections 87 to 89 do not extend to acts causing harm to the person who consented to them.^[33]
• Act done in good faith for benefit of person without consent – If an act is done to a person for his benefit in good faith, even without that person's consent, if the circumstances are such that it is impossible for that person to signify consent, or if that person is incapable of giving consent, and has no guardian or other person in lawful charge of him from whom it is possible to obtain consent in time for the thing to be done with benefit.^[34]
• Communication made in good faith – If it is a communication made in good faith for the benefit of a person.^[35]
• Compulsion by threats ��� If it is done by a person who is compelled to do it by threats, which, at the time of doing it, reasonably cause the apprehension that instant death to that person will otherwise be the consequence. The exception does not apply to murder and offences against the State punishable with death.^[36]
• Act causing slight harm – If it causes, or that it is intended to cause, or that it is known to be likely to cause, any harm, if that harm is so slight that no person of ordinary sense and temper would complain of such harm.^[37]

However, mistaking or having no knowledge of the law is not a defence to any criminal charge as stated in this section:

• Mistake of law or ignorance of law not defence – A person’s mistake or ignorance of the law is not a defence to a charge of an offence unless stated otherwise by law. Despite that, when a mistake of law negates the fault element required to establish liability for an offence, then to avoid doubt, that offence is not made out.^[38]

Chapter IVA: Right of private defence[]

• Private defence – If it is done in the exercise of the right of private defence.^[39]

Chapter V: Abetment[]

• Abetment – A person abets the doing of a thing when he or she —

(a) instigates any person to do that thing;

(b) engages with one or more other person or persons in any conspiracy for the doing of that thing, if an act or illegal omission takes place in pursuance of that conspiracy, and in order to the doing of that thing; or

(c) intentionally aids, by any act or illegal omission, the doing of that thing.^[40]

Whoever abets any offence shall, if the act abetted is committed in consequence of the abetment, and no express provision is made by the Penal Code for the punishment of such abetment, be punished with the punishment provided for the offence.^[41]

Chapter VA: Criminal conspiracy[]

• Criminal conspiracy – When two or more persons agree to do, or cause to be done —

(a) an illegal act; or

(b) an act, which is not illegal, by illegal means,

such an agreement is designated a criminal conspiracy. However, no agreement except an agreement to commit an offence shall amount to a criminal conspiracy unless some act besides the agreement is done by one or more parties to such agreement in pursuance thereof.^[42] Whoever is a party to a criminal conspiracy to commit an offence punishable with death or imprisonment of up to two years or upwards shall, where no express provision is made in the Penal Code for the punishment of such a conspiracy, be punished in the same manner as if he or she had abetted such offence.^[43] If the criminal conspiracy is to commit any other offence, the punishment is imprisonment of up to six months, or with a fine, or with both.^[44]

Chapter VIA: Piracy[]

• Piracy – A person commits piracy who does any act that, by the law of nations, is piracy. Whoever commits piracy shall be punished with imprisonment for life and with caning with not less than 12 strokes, but if while committing or attempting to commit piracy he or she murders or attempts to murder another person or does any act that is likely to endanger the life of another person he or she shall be punished with death.^[45]
• Piratical acts – Whoever, while in or out of Singapore —

(a) steals a Singapore ship;

(b) steals or without lawful authority throws overboard, damages or destroys anything that is part of the cargo, supplies or fittings in a Singapore ship;

(c) does or attempts to do a mutinous act on a Singapore ship; or

(d) counsels or procures a person to do anything mentioned in paragraph (a), (b) or (c),

shall be punished with imprisonment of up to ten years and shall be liable to caning.^[46]

Chapter VIII: Offences against the public tranquillity[]

• Unlawful assembly – An assembly of five or more persons is an "unlawful assembly" if the common object of the persons composing that assembly is —

(a) to overawe by criminal force, or show of criminal force, the Legislative or Executive Government, or any public servant in the exercise of the lawful power of such public servant;

(b) to resist the execution of any law, or of any legal process;

(c) to commit any mischief or criminal trespass, or other offence;

(d) by means of criminal force, or show of criminal force, to any person, to take or obtain possession of any property, or to deprive any person of the enjoyment of a right of way, or of the use of water or other incorporeal right of which he is in possession or enjoyment, or to enforce any right or supposed right; or

(e) by means of criminal force, or show of criminal force, to compel any person to do what he is not legally bound to do, or to omit to do what he is legally entitled to do.^[47]

The punishment for being a member of an unlawful assembly is imprisonment of up to six months, or a fine, or both.^[48]

• Rioting – The offence of rioting is committed whenever force or violence is used by an unlawful assembly or by any member thereof, in prosecution of the common object of the assembly.^[49] The punishment for rioting is imprisonment of up to five years and caning,^[50] or imprisonment of up to seven years and caning if a person is found rioting while armed with a deadly weapon.^[51]
• Affray – An affray is committed when two or more persons fight in a public place and disturb the public peace.^[52] The punishment for affray is imprisonment of up to one year, or a fine of up to S$1,000, or both.^[53]

Chapter XIV: Offences affecting the public tranquility, public health, safety, convenience, decency and morals[]

• Sale of obscene books, etc. – Whoever —

(a) sells, lets to hire, distributes, publicly exhibits or in any manner puts into circulation, or for purposes of sale, hire, distribution, public exhibition or circulation, makes, produces, or has in his possession any obscene book, pamphlet, paper, drawing, painting, representation or figure, or any other obscene object whatsoever;

(b) imports, exports or conveys any obscene object for any of the purposes aforesaid, or knowing or having reason to believe that such object will be sold, let to hire, distributed or publicly exhibited, or in any manner put into circulation;

(c) takes part in, or receives profits from, any business in the course of which he knows or has reason to believe that any such obscene objects are, for any of the purposes aforesaid, made, produced, purchased, kept, imported, exported, conveyed, publicly exhibited, or in any manner put into circulation;

(d) advertises, or makes known by any means whatsoever, that any person is engaged or is ready to engage in any act which is an offence under this section, or that any such obscene object can be procured from or through any person; or

(e) offers or attempts to do any act which is an offence under this section,

shall be punished with imprisonment of up to three months, or a fine, or both.^[54] Thus, it is a criminal offence in Singapore to sell, hire out, circulate or possess pornography.

Chapter XVI: Offences affecting the human body[]

Offences affecting life[]

• Culpable homicide – The offence of culpable homicide is committed when a person causes death by doing an act with the intention of causing death, or with the intention of causing such bodily injury as is likely to cause death, or with the knowledge that he or she is likely by such act to cause death.^[55] Where a decision is made by the Public Prosecutor not to charge a person with murder, a common alternative charge is 'culpable homicide not amounting to murder'. This is frequently called 'manslaughter' by the media, which is inaccurate as the term does not appear in the Penal Code and is different from the English common law offence of manslaughter. The penalty for culpable homicide not amounting to murder is:

(a) life imprisonment, or imprisonment of up to ten years, and a fine or caning, if the act by which death is caused is done with the intention of causing death, or of causing such bodily injury as is likely to cause death; or

(b) imprisonment of up to ten years, or with fine, or both, if the act is done with the knowledge that it is likely to cause death, but without any intention to cause death, or to cause such bodily injury as is likely to cause death.^[56]

• Murder – Except in the cases set out below, culpable homicide amounts to murder —

(a) if the act by which the death is caused is done with the intention of causing death;

(b) if it is done with the intention of causing such bodily injury as the offender knows to be likely to cause the death of the person to whom the harm is caused;

(c) if it is done with the intention of causing bodily injury to any person, and the bodily injury intended to be inflicted is sufficient in the ordinary course of nature to cause death; or

(d) if the person committing the act knows that it is so imminently dangerous that it must in all probability cause death, or such bodily injury as is likely to cause death, and commits such act without any excuse for incurring the risk of causing death, or such injury as aforesaid.^[57]

The penalty for committing murder is a mandatory punishment of death for offence (a), and if murder was committed within offences (b), (c) and (d), it shall be punished with death or life imprisonment and also with caning.^[58]

Culpable homicide does not amount to murder in the following seven cases:

• Grave and sudden provocation – Culpable homicide is not murder if the offender, whilst deprived of the power of self-control by grave and sudden provocation, causes the death of the person who gave the provocation, or causes the death of any other person by mistake or accident. The exception only applies if (a) the provocation was not sought or voluntarily provoked by the offender as an excuse for killing or doing harm to any person; (b) the provocation was not given by anything done in obedience to the law, or by a public servant in the lawful exercise of the powers of such public servant; or (c) the provocation was not given by anything done in the lawful exercise of the right of private defence.^[59]
• Private defence – Culpable homicide is not murder if the offender, in the exercise in good faith of the right of private defence of person or property, exceeds the power given to him by law, and causes the death of the person against whom he is exercising such right of defence, without premeditation and without any intention of doing more harm than is necessary for the purpose of such defence.^[60]
• Public servant discharging duty – Culpable homicide is not murder if the offender, being a public servant, or aiding a public servant acting for the advancement of public justice, exceeds the powers given to him by law, and causes death by doing an act which he, in good faith, believes to be lawful and necessary for the due discharge of his duty as such public servant, and without ill-will towards the person whose death is caused.^[61]
• Sudden fight – Culpable homicide is not murder if it is committed without premeditation in a sudden fight in the heat of passion upon a sudden quarrel, and without the offender having taken undue advantage or acted in a cruel or unusual manner.^[62]
• Consent – Culpable homicide is not murder when the person whose death is caused, being above the age of 18 years, suffers death or takes the risk of death with his own consent.^[63]
• Woman suffering post-natal depression causing homicide of her child – Culpable homicide is not murder if the offender being a woman voluntarily causes the death of her child being a child under the age of 12 months, and at the time of the offence the balance of her mind was disturbed by reason of her not having fully recovered from the effect of giving birth to the child or by reason of the effect of lactation consequent upon the birth of the child.^[64]
• Abnormality of mind – Culpable homicide is not murder if the offender was suffering from such abnormality of mind (whether arising from a condition of arrested or retarded development of mind or any inherent causes or induced by disease or injury) as substantially impaired his mental responsibility for his acts and omissions in causing the death or being a party to causing the death.^[65]

The above are sometimes called partial defences to murder, since they do not excuse the offender from the offence of murder entirely but merely reduce it to the offence of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

• Causing death by rash or negligent act – Whoever causes the death of any person by doing any rash or negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide, shall be punished with imprisonment of up to two years, or a fine, or both.^[66] The relevant section of the Penal Code creates two separate offences: causing death by a rash act, and causing death by a negligent act, the former being the more serious offence. Persons who cause deaths in the course of traffic accidents are often charged with one of these offences.

Hurt[]

• Voluntarily causing hurt – A person causes hurt when he or she causes bodily pain, disease or infirmity to any person.^[67] Whoever does any act with the intention of causing hurt to any person, or with the knowledge that he is likely to cause hurt to any person, and does cause hurt to any person, voluntarily causes hurt.^[68] The penalty for voluntarily causing hurt is imprisonment of up to one year, or a fine of up to S$5,000, or both.^[69]
• Voluntarily causing grievous hurt – The following kinds of hurt only are designated as "grievous":

(a) emasculation;

(b) permanent privation of the sight of either eye;

(c) permanent privation of the hearing of either ear;

(d) privation of any member or joint;

(e) destruction or permanent impairing of the powers of any member or joint;

(f) permanent disfiguration of the head or face;

(g) fracture or dislocation of a bone;

(h) any hurt which endangers life, or which causes the sufferer to be, during the space of 20 days, in severe bodily pain, or unable to follow his ordinary pursuits.^[70]

Whoever voluntarily causes hurt, if the hurt which he intends to cause or knows himself to be likely to cause is grievous hurt, and if the hurt which he causes is grievous hurt, is said "voluntarily to cause grievous hurt".^[71] The punishment for voluntarily causing grievous hurt is imprisonment of up to seven years, and also fine or caning.^[72]

Criminal force and assault[]

• Criminal force – A person uses criminal force to another person when he or she intentionally uses force^[73] to the other person, without that person's consent, in order to cause the committing of any offence, or intending by the use of such force illegally to cause, or knowing it to be likely that by the use of such force he will illegally cause injury, fear or annoyance to the person to whom the force is used.^[74] The penalty for using criminal force to another person is imprisonment for up to three months, or a fine of up to S$1,500, or both.^[75]
• Assault – Whoever makes any gesture or any preparation, intending or knowing it to be likely that such gesture or preparation will cause any person present to apprehend that he who makes that gesture or preparation is about to use criminal force to that person, is said to commit an assault.^[76] The penalty for assault is the same as that for using criminal force.^[77]
• Assault or use of criminal force with intent to outrage modesty – Whoever assaults or uses criminal force to any person, intending to outrage or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby outrage the modesty of that person, shall be punished with imprisonment for up to two years, or a fine, or caning, or any two of such punishments.^[78] This offence is sometimes inaccurately termed 'molest' by the media. If, in order to commit or to facilitate the commission of the offence, a person voluntarily causes or attempts to cause to that person death, or hurt, or wrongful restraint, or fear of instant death, instant hurt or instant wrongful restraint, the punishment is imprisonment of not less than two years and not more than ten years with caning.^[79] If the offence is committed in a lift in any building, or against any person under 14 years of age, the punishment is imprisonment for not less than three years and not more than ten years and caning.^[80]

Kidnapping, abduction, slavery and forced labour[]

• Kidnapping – There are two kinds of kidnapping: kidnapping from Singapore, and kidnapping from lawful guardianship.^[81] A person is kidnapped from Singapore when he or she is conveyed beyond the limits of Singapore without his or her consent or the consent of some person legally authorised to consent on behalf of that person.^[82] Whoever takes or entices any minor under 14 years of age if a male, or under 16 years of age if a female, or any person of unsound mind, out of the keeping of the lawful guardian of such minor or person of unsound mind, without the consent of such guardian, is said to kidnap such minor or person from lawful guardianship.^[83] The punishment for kidnapping from Singapore or kidnapping from lawful guardianship is imprisonment for up to ten years, and a fine or caning.^[84] It may be noted that under the ,^[85] it is an offence to abduct or wrongfully restrain or wrongfully confine a person with intent to hold that person for ransom. The penalty is death or imprisonment for life; if the offender is not sentenced to death, he is also liable to caning.^[86]

Sexual offences[]

• Rape –

(1) Any man who penetrates a woman's vagina will be guilty of rape under the following descriptions:

(a) without her consent;

(b) with or without her consent, when she is under 14 years of age.^[87]

• Other forms of rape, including male on male, female on male rape –

(1A) Any man (A) who penetrates the anus or mouth of person B with A's penis will be guilty of rape under the following descriptions:

(a) without B's consent;

(b) with or without B's consent, when B is under 14 years of age.^[88]

Sexual intercourse by a man with his own wife is not rape when her consent is given. In addition, no man will be guilty of rape if he proves that the act against a person or a person below 14 years of age was done with mistaken consent.^[89]

The penalty for rape is imprisonment for up to 20 years, and also a fine or caning.^[90] Where a man, in order to commit or to facilitate the commission of an offence of rape, voluntarily causes hurt to any person, or puts a person in fear of death or hurt to that person or any other person shall be punished with imprisonment for not less than eight years and not more than 20 years and also with not less than 12 strokes of the cane.^[91] The same penalty applies to the commission of rape by having sexual intercourse with person B under 14 years of age without her consent.^[92] Under the Women's Charter,^[93] any person who has carnal connection with any girl below the age of 16 years except by way of marriage is guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment of up to five years and a fine not exceeding S$10,000.^[94] As this offence raises the age of consent for females from 14 to 16 years, cases of underage sex are usually charged under the Women's Charter rather than the Penal Code. (The offence is often called 'statutory rape', although this is a term used in U.S. law.)

• Incest – Incest is committed when —

(a) any man has carnal knowledge of a woman with or without her consent who is to his knowledge his grand-daughter, daughter, sister, half-sister or mother (whether such relationship is or is not traced through lawful wedlock); or

(b) any woman of or above the age of 16 who with consent permits her grandfather, father, brother, half-brother or son (whether such relationship is or is not traced through lawful wedlock) to have carnal knowledge of her (knowing him to be her grandfather, father, brother, half-brother or son, as the case may be).^[95]

A man who commits incest shall be punished with imprisonment of up to five years, and if the woman is found to be under 14 years the offender shall be punished with imprisonment of up to 14 years.^[96] A woman who commits incest shall be punished with imprisonment of up to five years.^[97]

Outrages on decency[]

• Outrages on decency – Any male person who, in public or private, commits, or abets the commission of, or procures or attempts to procure the commission by any male person of, any act of gross indecency with another male person, shall be punished with imprisonment for up to two years.^[98]

Word or gesture intended to insult the modesty of any person[]

• Word or gesture intended to insult the modesty of any person – Whoever, intending to insult the modesty of any person, utters any word, makes any sound or gesture, or exhibits any object, intending that such word or sound will be heard, or that such gesture or object will be seen by such person, or intrudes upon the privacy of such person, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.^[99]

Voyeurism[]

Chapter XVII: Offences affecting property[]

Theft[]

• Theft – Theft is committed when a person, intending to take dishonestly any movable property out of the possession of any person without that person's consent, moves that property in order to effect the taking.^[100] The penalty for theft is imprisonment of up to three years, or a fine, or both.^[101] It is more common, however, for offenders to be charged with committing theft in a building, tent or vessel, which is used as a human dwelling, or for the custody of property. The penalty for this more serious offence is imprisonment of up to seven years, and also a fine.^[102]

Extortion[]

• Extortion – Whoever intentionally puts any person in fear of any injury to that person or to any other, and thereby dishonestly induces the person so put in fear to deliver to any person any property or valuable security, or anything signed or sealed which may be converted into a valuable security, commits "extortion".^[103] Whoever commits extortion shall be punished with imprisonment for not less than two years and not more than seven years, and caning.^[104]

Robbery and gang-robbery[]

• Robbery – Robbery is a species of either theft or extortion.^[105] Theft is robbery if, in order to commit theft, or in committing the theft, or in carrying away or attempting to carry away property obtained by the theft, the offender, for that end, voluntarily causes or attempts to cause to any person death, or hurt, or wrongful restraint, or fear of instant death, or of instant hurt, or of instant wrongful restraint.^[106] Extortion is robbery if the offender, at the time of committing the extortion, is in the presence of the person put in fear, and commits the extortion by putting that person in fear of instant death, of instant hurt, or of instant wrongful restraint to that person or to some other person, and, by so putting in fear, induces the person so put in fear then and there to deliver up the thing extorted.^[107] The penalty for robbery is imprisonment for not less than two years and not more than ten years, and caning of not less than six strokes; if the robbery is committed after 7:00 p.m. and before 7:00 a.m. the offender shall be punished with imprisonment of not less than three years and not more than 14 years, and also caning with not less than 12 strokes.^[108]
• Gang-robbery – Gang-robbery is committed when five or more persons conjointly commit or attempt to commit a robbery, or where the whole number of persons conjointly committing or attempting to commit a robbery, and of persons present and aiding such commission or attempt, amount to five or more.^[109] The penalty for gang-robbery is imprisonment for not less than five years and not more than 20 years, and also caning with not less than 12 strokes.^[110]

Criminal breach of trust[]

• Criminal breach of trust – Criminal breach of trust is committed by a person who, being in any manner entrusted with property, or with any dominion over property, dishonestly misappropriates or converts to his or her own use that property, or dishonestly uses or disposes of that property in violation of any direction of law prescribing the mode in which such trust is to be discharged, or of any legal contract, express or implied, which he or she has made touching the discharge of such trust, or wilfully suffers any other person to do so.^[111] It is not necessary for the entrustee to know the true identity of the entrustor.^[112] For instance, A, a warehouse-keeper, commits breach of trust if he dishonestly sells furniture belonging to Z who, intending to go on a journey, has entrusted the goods to A under a contract that it shall be returned on payment of a stipulated sum for warehouse room.^[113] The penalty is imprisonment for up to three years, or a fine, or both.^[114]

Cheating[]

• Simple Cheating – Under the Singapore Penal Code, Chapter 224, section 417. Whoever, by deceiving any person, fraudulently or dishonestly induces the person so deceived to deliver any property to any person, or to consent that any person shall retain any property, or intentionally induces the person so deceived to do or omit to do anything which he or she would not do or omit if he or she were not so deceived, and which act or omission causes or is likely to cause damage or harm to that person in body, mind, reputation or property, is said to "cheat".^[115] For example, A cheats if he intentionally deceives Z into a belief that A means to repay any money that Z may lend to him when A does not intend to repay it, and thereby dishonestly induces Z to lend him money.^[116] Cheating is punished with imprisonment of up to one year, or a fine, or both.^[117]
• Aggravated Cheating - is punishable under the Singapore Penal Code Chapter 224, Section 420 with imprisonment for a term of up to 7 years, and the offender is also liable to fine. Imprisonment is mandatory.

Mischief[]

• Mischief – Mischief is committed by a person who, with intent to cause, or knowing that he or she is likely to cause, wrongful loss or damage to the public or any person, causes the destruction of any property, or any such change in any property, or in the situation thereof, as destroys or diminishes its value or utility, or affects it injuriously.^[118] For instance, A commits mischief if he voluntarily throws into a river a ring belonging to Z, with the intention of thereby causing wrongful loss to Z.^[119] The penalty for mischief is imprisonment of up to three months, or a fine, or both.^[120]

Criminal trespass[]

• Criminal trespass – Whoever enters into or upon property in the possession of another with intent to commit an offence or to intimidate, insult or annoy any person in possession of such property, or having lawfully entered into or upon such property, unlawfully remains there with intent thereby to intimidate, insult or annoy any such person, or with intent to commit an offence, is said to commit "criminal trespass".^[121] The penalty is imprisonment of up to three months, or with a fine of up to S$500, or both.^[122]
• House-breaking – "House-trespass" is committed by a person who commits criminal trespass by entering into, or remaining in, any building, tent or vessel used as a human dwelling, or any building used as a place for worship or as a place for the custody of property.^[123] A person is said to commit "house-breaking" if he or she commits house-trespass by effecting his or her entrance into the house or any part of it in any of the six ways hereinafter described; or if, being in the house or any part of it for the purpose of committing an offence, or having committed an offence therein, he or she quits the house or any part of it in any of such six ways:

(a) if he or she enters or quits through a passage made by himself or herself, or by any abettor of the house-trespass, in order to the committing of the house-trespass;

(b) if he or she enters or quits through any passage not intended by any person, other than himself or herself or an abettor of the offence, for human entrance; or through any passage to which he or she has obtained access by scaling or climbing over any wall or building;

(c) if he or she enters or quits through any passage which he or she or any abettor of the house-trespass has opened, in order to the committing of the house-trespass, by any means by which that passage was not intended by the occupier of the house to be opened;

(d) if he or she enters or quits by opening any lock in order to the committing of the house-trespass, or in order to the quitting of the house after a house-trespass;

(e) if he or she effects his or her entrance or departure by using criminal force or committing an assault, or by threatening any person with assault;

(f) if he or she enters or quits by any passage which he or she knows to have been fastened against such entrance or departure, and to have been unfastened by himself or herself or by an abettor of the house-trespass.^[124]

The penalty for house-breaking is imprisonment of up to two years, and potentially also a fine.^[125]

Chapter XX: Offences relating to marriage[]

• Marrying again during the lifetime of husband or wife – Whoever, having a husband or wife living, marries in any case in which such marriage is void by reason of its taking place during the life of such husband or wife, shall be punished with imprisonment of up to seven years, and shall also be liable to a fine.^[126] If a person commits the offence having concealed from the person with whom the subsequent marriage is contracted the fact of the former marriage, he or she shall be punished with imprisonment of up to ten years, and shall also be liable to a fine.^[127]
  • Note: The Administration of Muslim Law Act, Part VI (Marriage and Divorce), allows polygamy for Muslim men.

Chapter XXI: Defamation[]

• Defamation – A person criminally defames another person when he or she, by words either spoken or intended to be read, or by signs, or by visible representations, makes or publishes any imputation concerning the other person, intending to harm, or knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation will harm, the reputation of such person.^[128] An imputation harms a person's reputation if it directly or indirectly, in the estimation of others, lowers the moral or intellectual character of that person, or lowers the character of that person in respect of his or her caste or calling, or lowers the credit of that person, or causes it to be believed that the body of that person is in a loathsome state, or in a state generally considered as disgraceful.^[129] There are ten exceptions to the offence:
  • Imputation of any truth which the public good requires to be made or published – It is not defamation to impute anything which is true concerning any person, if it is for the public good that the imputation should be made or published.
  • Public conduct of public servants – It is not defamation to express in good faith any opinion whatever respecting the conduct of any person touching any discharge of his or her public functions, or respecting his or her character, so far as his or her character appears in that conduct, and no further.
  • Conduct of any person touching any public question – It is not defamation to express in good faith any opinion whatever respecting the conduct of any person touching any public question, and respecting his or her character, so far as his or her character appears in that conduct, and no further.
  • Publication of reports of proceedings of courts of justice, etc. – It is not defamation to publish a substantially true report of the proceedings of a court of justice, or of Parliament, or of the result of any such proceedings.
  • Merits of case decided in a court of justice; or conduct of witnesses and others concerned therein – It is not defamation to express in good faith any opinion whatever respecting the merits of any case, civil or criminal, which has been decided by a court of justice, or respecting the conduct of any person as a party, witness or agent, in any such case, or respecting the character of such person, as far as his or her character appears in that conduct, and no further.
  • Merits of a public performance – It is not defamation to express in good faith any opinion respecting the merits of any performance which its author has submitted to the judgment of the public, or respecting the character of the author so far as his or her character appears in such performance, and no further.
  • Censure passed in good faith by a person having lawful authority over another – It is not defamation in a person having over another any authority, either conferred by law, or arising out of a lawful contract made with that other, to pass in good faith any censure on the conduct of that other in matters to which such lawful authority relates.
  • Accusation preferred in good faith to a duly authorised person – It is not defamation to prefer in good faith an accusation against any person to any of those who have lawful authority over that person with respect to the subject-matter of the accusation.
  • Imputation made in good faith by a person for the protection of his or her interests – It is not defamation to make an imputation on the character of another, provided that the imputation is made in good faith for the protection of the interests of the person making it, or of any other person, or for the public good.
  • Caution intended for the good of the person to whom it is conveyed or for the public good – It is not defamation to convey a caution, in good faith, to one person against another, provided that the caution is intended for the good of the person to whom it is conveyed, or of some person in whom that person is interested, or for the public good.

The punishment for defamation is imprisonment of up to two years, or with a fine, or both.^[130]

Chapter XXII: Criminal intimidation, insult and annoyance[]

• Criminal intimidation – Whoever threatens another with any injury to his or her person, reputation or property, or to the person or reputation of any one in whom that person is interested, with intent to cause alarm to that person, or to cause that person to do any act which he or she is not legally bound to do, or to omit to do any act which that person is legally entitled to do, as the means of avoiding the execution of such threat, commits criminal intimidation.^[131] The penalty is imprisonment of up to two years, or with a fine, or with both. If the threat is to cause death or grievous hurt, or to cause the destruction of any property by fire, or to cause an offence punishable with death or with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years or more, the punishment is imprisonment of up to ten(10) years, or with a fine, or with both.^[132]

Chapter XXIII: Attempts to commit offences[]

• Punishment for attempting to commit offences – Whoever attempts to commit an offence punishable by the Penal Code or by any other written law with imprisonment or fine or with a combination of such punishments, or attempts to cause such an offence to be committed, and in such attempt does any act towards the commission of the offence, shall, where no express provision is made by the Code or by such other written law, as the case may be, for the punishment of such attempt, be punished with such punishment as is provided for the offence. However, any term of imprisonment imposed shall not exceed one-half of the longest term provided for the offence.^[133]

Charge in court[]

The Attorney-General of Singapore's role as the Public Prosecutor is done by the AGC's Crime Division.

Prosecutorial discretion^[134] grants AGC the power to institute, conduct or discontinue any prosecution at his discretion.^[135]

In criminal law, it is the role of the prosecution to must prove the case in court against the accused beyond reasonable doubt. Basically, it is not for the accused to prove his innocence, since the accused is innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

In general, an accused offender is usually first charged with an appropriate offence that can be established on the facts of the case. Upon engaging a lawyer (defence counsel), the defence counsel will make written representations without prejudice legally to the prosecuting authority, the Prosecution may then review, exercise his prosecutorial discretion,^[136] and consent to amend the charge with lesser relevant offence, a process known as plea bargaining. This is where the defence counsels will engage without prejudice with the Public Prosecutor in negotiations for reduction of charges, or mitigation in plea to seek leniency from the Court.

Reform[]

2007 Penal Code amendments[]

In 2006, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), in consultation with the , Ministry of Law and other agencies, conducted an extensive review of the Penal Code in order to bring it "up to date, and make it more effective in maintaining a safe and secure society in today's context".^[137] Between 9 November and 9 December 2006, the MHA held a public consultation on proposed changes to the Code.

Among the proposed amendments are the ones set out below.

Expansion and modification of the scope of existing offences[]

• Offences committed via electronic medium – The scope of certain sections will be expanded to cover offences committed via an electronic medium, including s. 292 (sale of obscene books. etc.), s. 298 (uttering words, etc., with deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings of any person), s. 499 (defamation) and s. 505 (statements conducing to public mischief).^[138]
• Cheating – Section 415, which defines the offence of cheating, will be amended to make clear that (a) the offence is committed whether or not deception was the sole or main inducement; (b) it extends to cover damage or harm to any person instead of only to the person deceived; and (c) any representation made through an agent will be treated as having been made by the person himself or herself.^[139]
• Unlawful assembly – Section 141 will be amended so that an unlawful assembly is an assembly of five or more people whose common object is to commit any offence, and not just an offence relating to public tranquillity.^[140]
• New offence of uttering words, etc., with deliberate intent to wound racial feelings – Section 298, which creates the offence of uttering words, etc., with deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings of any person, will be expanded to cover the wounding of racial feelings as well.^[141] This is to provide the Public Prosecutor with the option of charging offenders under the Penal Code instead of only the Sedition Act.^[142]
• Decriminalization of anal and oral sex in certain circumstances; bestiality – Section 377 (carnal intercourse against the order of nature) will be repealed and re-enacted in a modified form, such that anal and oral sex, if done in private between a consulting heterosexual couple aged 16 years old and above, will no longer be criminal offences. The offence of bestiality, also currently covered by s. 377, will be expanded to cover the scenario where a person is compelled by another person to perform bestiality without his or her consent.^[143] The new s 377 will be replaced by omitting "unnatural sex" to be replaced by "Sex with a corpse" or dead bodies which will be outlawed.
• Incest – The offence of incest created by ss. 376A, 376B and 376C will be expanded to (a) cover other sexual acts involving penetration, in addition to sexual intercourse; (b) cover penetrative sexual acts between a grandmother and her grandson; and (c) provide that a boy under 16 years cannot be prosecuted for incest (as currently provided for females under 16 years) as they are not mature enough to make an informed decision.^[144]
• Rape – The offence of rape (s. 375) will be amended to cover persons who have undergone sex reassignment surgery, and to define sexual intercourse to include acts involving a surgically constructed penis or vagina that is integrated into the body of a person.^[145]
• Enhanced penalties for outraging modesty of minor under 14 years – The penalties for outraging the modesty of a minor under 14 years under s. 354 will be enhanced.^[146]
• Increase in age restriction for selling, etc., obscene object to minor – The age restriction under s. 293, which makes it an offence for any person to sell, hire, distribute, exhibit or circulate any obscene object to any person under 20 years, will be increased to 21 years in line with the Restricted 21 (R21) classification for films.^[147]

See also[]

• Caning in Singapore
• Capital punishment in Singapore
• Criminal law of Singapore
• Law of Singapore
• LGBT rights in Singapore

Notes[]

Further reading[]

• Chan, Wing Cheong; Andrew Phang (2001). The Development of Criminal Law and Criminal Justice in Singapore. Singapore: Singapore Journal of Legal Studies, Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore. ISBN 981-04-3720-X.
• Chan, Wing Cheong; Michael Hor Yew Meng; Victor V. Ramraj (2005). Fundamental Principles of Criminal Law : Cases and Materials. Singapore: LexisNexis. ISBN 981-236-409-9.