Singapore ponders caning punishment for scammers
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Singaporeans lost an average of $4031 each to scams in 2023, putting the island state top of the global league table, according to the Financial Times.
This is ascribed to their prosperity, embrace of digital services and compliance with authority.
The country is now pondering a new way to deter potential scammers: corporal punishment.
In response to a suggestion in parliament, Minister of State for Home Affairs Sun Xueling recently said: 'We will consider Dr Tan's suggestion for caning to be prescribed for certain scam-related offences, recognising the serious harm they can cause.'
Loretta Yuen, chair of the fraud committee at the Association of Banks in Singapore is backing the idea, telling the FT: "We believe in caning as a strong deterrent."
Adds Yuen: 'It's a deterrent, but there is also a sense of revenge to it.'
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This has led to skirmishes over several years and at least a dozen deaths, including during a weeklong exchange of artillery in 2011. Tensions were reignited in May after a Cambodian soldier was killed during a brief exchange of gunfire, which escalated into a full-blown diplomatic crisis and now has triggered recent armed clashes. Both countries agreed to de-escalate tensions, but Cambodian and Thai authorities continued to implement or threaten restrictions on the other. Tighter restrictions on Thailand's land border with Cambodia were implemented, stopping almost all crossings except for students, medical patients and others with essential needs. Thai authorities sealed the border entirely after Thursday's escalation. Meanwhile, Cambodia has banned Thai movies and TV shows, stopped the import of Thai fuel, fruits and vegetables and boycotted some of its neighbour's international internet links and power supply. 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The FCDO website states: "There are reports of fighting including rocket and artillery fire on 24 July between Thailand and Cambodia at several locations along the border. Casualties have been reported, as well as evacuations of areas close to the border." It adds that British nationals should "exercise a high level of vigilance in border areas" and "follow the instructions of local authorities. There are also unexploded landmines in the border area". The US Embassy in Thailand also released new advice, telling US citizens to "follow direction from Thai security services and consult local government authorities for the latest information". Why is the border contested? Tensions over the border largely stem back to a 1907 map drawn under French colonial rule that was used to separate Cambodia from Thailand. Cambodia has used the map as a reference to claim territory, while Thailand has argued the map is inaccurate. 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