SINGAPORE plans to unleash at least six brutal strokes of the cane on convicted online scammers, a minister told lawmakers on Tuesday.

A shocking video shows how offenders will be tied down and forced to writhe in agony as someone ferciously whips their backside.

This mandatory punishment could go up to 24 strokes in extreme cases.

This penalty is usually reserved for more serious offences, including rape, drug trafficking and illegal moneylending.

The punishment only applies to male offenders under the age of 50 and a rattan cane is typically used after a medical examination.

This comes as the city-state attempts to crack down on syndicates following record losses.

Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy lost more than $2.8 billion through scams in the period between 2020 and 2025.

Sim Ann, Singapore’s senior minister of state for home affairs, told parliament that around 190,000 cases of scamming were reported in that time.

In her presentation of the bill before it was passed earlier this week, she said that scams account for 60 per cent of all crimes in Singapore.

Earlier this year, the government passed a law giving the police the power to limit transactions from an individual’s account if scam activity is detected.

“We will introduce mandatory caning for scammers,” Sim said.

“Offenders who commit scams, defined as cheating by means of remote communication, will be punished with at least six strokes of the cane.

“These syndicates mobilise significant resources to conduct and profit from scams, and have the highest rate of culpability,” Sim added.

Anyone caught helping scammers, including so-called “money mules” who offer up bank accounts or SIM cards for use, could face up to 12 lashes.

The Singaporean authorities have stepped up education efforts in recent years, including setting up a national hotline.

In 2020, the government introduced the ScamShield app which allows users to verify suspicious calls, websites and messages.

Last year, then-premier Lee Hsien Loong told local media that he had been the victim of a scam when an item he ordered never arrived.

This highlights how any member of society can be affected by this issue.

Heart stopping moment F1 mechanic is nearly hit by speeding car after wheel rolls towards pit lane at Singapore GP

NEAR MISS

Video Player is loading.

Current Time 0:00

Duration 0:17

Loaded: 11.02%

Remaining Time 0:17

Up Next

-

American airline abruptly confirms immediate total shutdown and cancels flights after 66 years of service

Over the past few years, the number of cyberscam hubs have increased.

Luring foreigners to work in scam hothouses, they seek to swindle unsuspecting individuals through online romance and crypto investment cons.

On Friday, Singapore police said they had seized more than $115 million in assets tied to Chen Zhi.

Chen Zhi is a British-Cambodian tycoon accused of running forced labour camps which are used as multi-billion dollar scam centres.

This came after the US Justice Department unsealed an indictment against Zhi earlier this month.

The 37-year-old is the founder of Prince Holding Group, a multinational conglomerate that Washington said served as a front for “one of Asia’s transnational criminal organisations.”

Caning, which started under British colonial rule in the 19th century has increased in recent years.

It is still in used in boys’ school around the country, albeit in a less severe form.

The practice has been criticised repeatedly by Human Rights groups.

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International consider caning a form of torture under international law.