Public safety & law — Topics

7 May 2024

Investigations into "99-to-1" Arrangement for Stamp Duty Payment for Property Purchases

IRAS has reviewed 187 "99-to-1" cases, found tax avoidance in 166, and will recover about $60 million in Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty and surcharges.
About 10 cases with evidence of potential property agent involvement are under review by the Council for Estate Agencies.
The Government is not currently assisting with compensation for misadvised individuals but is focusing on enforcement and recovery.

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7 May 2024

Consumer Protection and Anti-scam Safeguards for Users of E-commerce Platforms

Melvin Yong inquired if TikTok Shop would be added to the E-commerce Marketplace Transaction Safety Ratings and whether legislation would be considered to enforce anti-scam measures on platforms that lack them.
K Shanmugam responded that TikTok Shop is excluded from the ratings because it accounted for less than 1% of e-commerce scams in Singapore in 2023, but it will be monitored and added if warranted.
The Minister highlighted that the Online Criminal Harms Act enables the government to issue Codes of Practice requiring online services to implement anti-scam measures, with these codes to be published later in the year.
The debate centered on enhancing consumer protection through updated safety ratings and potential legislative action to ensure e-commerce platforms adhere to recommended anti-scam safeguards.
The government emphasized a monitoring approach for platforms like TikTok Shop and a legal framework to compel compliance with anti-scam measures.

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7 May 2024

Extension of SportCares Programme to Facilitate Rehabilitation of Juvenile Delinquents

Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim queried whether the Ministry would extend the SportCares programme to assist in the rehabilitation of juvenile delinquents.
Edwin Tong Chun Fai outlined that SportCares already partners with the Singapore Prison Service and supports rehabilitation at institutions like the Reformative Training Centre and the Singapore Boys' and Girls' Homes.
He noted that the programme provides sports coaching and values education, with participants encouraged to continue in community programmes after release.
The Ministry confirmed it will continue exploring ways to better enable children and young people in the criminal justice system to benefit from sports.

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7 May 2024

Transport Safety Investigation Bureau's Probe into Crash of Singapore-registered Container Vessel at Baltimore Bridge

Mr Saktiandi Supaat and Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked for updates on the Transport Safety Investigation Bureau's probe into the Singapore-registered vessel Dali's crash at Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge, including completion timelines, preliminary lessons, crew well-being, and disclosure of findings.
Minister Chee Hong Tat responded that the Ministry is participating in the U.S.-led investigation per International Maritime Organization guidelines, with a separate probe by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, but it is too early to determine causes or completion dates.
The Minister added that the crew is safe and assisting with investigations, with support from the ship owner and manager for their well-being, while findings will be shared once the investigations conclude.

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7 May 2024

Review of Safety Measures for Loading of Cranes, Especially Near Public Roads

Melvin Yong asked the Ministry of Manpower about existing safety measures for loading and unloading cranes and whether stricter rules will be imposed for cranes operating near public roads after an accident on 9 April 2024.
The Ministry stated that current measures include safety statements, site assessments, ground stability checks, cordoning collapse zones, and trained operators, as per the Singapore Standard 663 and WSH guidelines.
The Ministry noted only three incidents since 2019 involving heavy machinery loading, with minimal injuries, and will review additional measures after the 9 April 2024 incident investigation is complete.

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7 May 2024

Legislation to Detect and Act Against Fraud in Renovation Disputes

The Ministry of Home Affairs studied whether to amend the law to ease establishing fraud in renovation disputes and concluded no changes are needed, as current Penal Code provisions allow prosecution of fraud using evidence like financial and digital records.
Authorities note that many renovation disputes arise from business distress rather than fraud, so civil remedies such as the Small Claims Tribunal, with raised claim limits, are the appropriate recourse.
Homeowners are advised to engage contractors accredited by CASE, which offer consumer-friendly policies and facilitated dispute resolution.

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7 May 2024

Potential Violations in Recent Mobile Guardian Data Breach Incident

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked if the PDPC will investigate potential PDPA violations in the April 2024 data breach affecting 127 schools, seek a timeline for any investigation, and consider financial penalties on responsible parties.
Mrs Josephine Teo confirmed the PDPC is currently investigating whether any private sector organisation breached PDPA obligations, noting the Ministry of Education has shared incident details.

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7 May 2024

Probe into Recent Mobile Guardian Data Breach Incident and Impact on Cybersecurity Measures for School Apps

MOE confirmed the Mobile Guardian incident involved unauthorized access to a support account via poor password management, affecting 67,000 parents and 22,000 school staff across 127 schools, but did not compromise MOE or government systems.
The Ministry has communicated with affected users, lodged a police report, and required Mobile Guardian to appoint a forensic investigator to review systems and prevent recurrence, with contractual actions to be taken if obligations are breached.
MOE reiterated its commitment to independent audits, regular cybersecurity testing, and user education to ensure the security of school IT systems and apps.

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7 May 2024

Cybersecurity (Amendment) Bill

The Cybersecurity (Amendment) Bill updates the 2018 Cybersecurity Act to address changes in technology and threats, such as cloud computing and supply chain attacks, by expanding regulatory oversight to cover critical information infrastructure (CII), systems of temporary cybersecurity concern (STCC), entities of special cybersecurity interest (ESCI), and foundational digital infrastructure (FDI) providers.
The Bill introduces new requirements for incident reporting, including for third-party-owned CII and peripheral systems, and allows the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) to designate overseas CII if the owner is in Singapore, while ensuring accountability through legally binding commitments with third-party vendors.
To balance security and business costs, the Bill imposes lighter-touch regulations on ESCI and FDI providers compared to CII, and includes safeguards such as appeal mechanisms, penalties for non-compliance, and ongoing consultations with stakeholders to develop practical standards and implementation guidelines.

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7 May 2024

Corporate Service Providers Bill

The Corporate Service Providers Bill seeks to regulate businesses and individuals offering corporate services to prevent money laundering, terrorism financing, and proliferation financing.
The bill was presented by the Second Minister for Finance, Ms Indranee Rajah, and read for the first time in Parliament.
The bill is scheduled for a second reading at the next available parliamentary sitting and will be printed for further legislative review.

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7 May 2024

Measures to Prevent Speeding and Reckless Driving Especially at Accident-prone Junctions

The Ministry of Transport and Land Transport Authority outlined multi-pronged road safety measures, including designing roads to international standards, implementing Red-Amber-Green arrows at junctions, and creating School and Silver Zones to reduce accidents, with Silver Zones lowering pedestrian accidents by about 80%.
Enforcement against illegal vehicle modifications has been stepped up, with increased penalties since 2021, while data analytics and community feedback guide localised enhancements like speed humps and safety bollards, though direct correlation between modifications and speeding accidents is complex.
LTA reviews and expands safety zones based on local conditions, collaborates with schools and agencies to address congestion, and prioritises at-grade crossings over infrastructure like underground walkways unless terrain or development constraints necessitate them.

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7 May 2024

Measures to Improve Safety on the Roads and Increase Penalties following Recent Spate of Fatal Accidents

The Ministry of Home Affairs is enhancing road safety through intensified education campaigns, partnerships with stakeholders, and the rollout of speed limiters for lorries by June 2027, while maintaining that periodic refresher courses for all drivers are not mandatory.
Enforcement measures include using public-submitted social media videos for investigations, deploying more traffic police officers and cameras, and regularly reviewing penalties under the Road Traffic Act, with current penalties deemed sufficient compared to international standards.
The government emphasizes a shared responsibility for road safety, promoting public awareness initiatives and community-led projects, while also providing support systems for accident victims’ families through referrals to social and mental health services.

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7 May 2024

Measures to Improve Safety on the Roads and Increase Penalties following Recent Spate of Fatal Accidents

Multiple Members of Parliament expressed concern over the recent rise in fatal road accidents and asked about stricter penalties, enhanced enforcement, better driver education, and public awareness campaigns.
The Minister stated that while overall traffic accidents causing injuries have decreased, fatal accidents have increased by 12% over the last five years, with top causes being failure to keep a proper lookout and speeding.
The Ministry noted that penalties under the Road Traffic Act were already significantly raised in 2019 and are under regular review, while enforcement has been intensified with more ad-hoc checks and speed cameras activated at accident-prone locations.
Road safety measures include the Safe Driving Course to expunge demerit points, online public reporting of violations via Police e-services, and ongoing public education, though universal installation of cameras at all junctions is not feasible.
The Minister emphasized that the government is continuously studying composition amounts, the demerit points framework, and other preventive measures to improve road safety and accountability.

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3 Apr 2024

Continued Availability of Plea Bargains After Published Guidelines on Reduction in Sentences for Guilty Pleas

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim inquired whether plea bargains are still offered after the publication of the Guidelines on Reduction in Sentences for Guilty Pleas, the circumstances under which they may be offered, and if the Guidelines would recommend additional sentence reductions for plea bargains.
The Minister for Law clarified that the Guidelines are intended to encourage early guilty pleas and provide courts with flexible, discretionary ranges for sentence reductions, but they do not affect the separate plea bargaining process between the prosecution and defense.
Plea offers remain a matter of prosecutorial discretion based on factors like resource savings and the accused’s cooperation, and if accepted, the court may still apply the Guidelines to determine an appropriate sentence reduction.

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3 Apr 2024

Update on Human Trafficking Situation in Singapore and Measures to Deter Offences

The Minister for Home Affairs reported that Singapore's human trafficking situation is under control, with agencies implementing border detection measures, conducting enforcement checks, and training frontline officers to identify and respond to trafficking indicators.
Over the past five years, 129 cases with signs of human trafficking were investigated, with two substantiated and prosecuted under the Prevention of Human Trafficking Act and related laws, though no organized crime was found.
Authorities are collaborating with community partners and NGOs to raise awareness and promote reporting channels, while ongoing measures focus on deterring and apprehending trafficking offenders.

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3 Apr 2024

Update on Investigation into Falsely Inflated Circulation Numbers at Singapore Press Holdings

Leong Mun Wai inquired about the ongoing investigation into false inflation of circulation numbers at Singapore Press Holdings.
K Shanmugam responded that police investigations are still in progress and no comments can be provided at this stage.
The debate highlighted the lack of updates due to the ongoing nature of the investigation.

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3 Apr 2024

Update on Measures to Curb Recreational Drug Abuse

Christopher de Souza asked for an update on measures to curb recreational drug abuse.
K Shanmugam directed him to the recent Committee of Supply debate for the latest information.
The referenced update is in the Official Report dated 29 February 2024.

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3 Apr 2024

Update on Rehabilitation Efforts for Self-Radicalised Individuals

The Internal Security Department has dealt with 60 self-radicalised individuals since 2007, including 48 Singaporeans, using a comprehensive rehabilitation approach involving religious guidance, psychological support, and social assistance.
Rehabilitation efforts have shown a high success rate, with 23 out of 30 detained Singaporean detainees released and 14 out of 18 under Restriction Orders having their orders lapse.
ISD has refined its approach for self-radicalised youths by addressing factors like poor critical thinking and mental resilience, and has introduced a mentoring programme to support their reintegration.

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3 Apr 2024

Considerations for When to Press Charges for Ill-treatment of Young Persons by Causing Emotional Harm

The Minister clarified that the Public Prosecutor holds the discretion to press charges for emotional harm to young persons under the Children and Young Persons Act, considering factors such as the evidence of harm, the child’s ability to be interviewed, and the availability of medical or corroborative evidence.
The Ministry stated it does not have any past case studies to share regarding prosecutions for emotional harm to young persons.
The debate highlighted that decisions on charges rely on the strength and sufficiency of evidence, including psychological and observational support.

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3 Apr 2024

Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) (Amendment) Bill

The government proposes extending the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act for five more years, arguing it is a necessary last-resort tool to detain individuals linked to secret societies and organized crime when prosecution is impossible due to witness intimidation.
Several Members of Parliament support the extension but express concerns about the law's temporary nature, the balance between individual liberty and public safety, and the need for stronger safeguards, while others call for a long-term plan to phase out the Act.
The Minister of State defends the Act's continued relevance, citing ongoing threats from gangs and transnational crime, and highlights existing safeguards like annual reviews by independent committees and the requirement for the Public Prosecutor's consent.

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