Public safety & law

• The Minister stated that investigations into Sgt Uvaraja’s allegations found some were true and had been acted upon earlier, while others were untrue, with the Attorney-General’s Chambers confirming no further action was needed.
• The Minister outlined the extensive support provided to Sgt Uvaraja, including substantial medical and no-pay leave, psychological assistance, and coaching, while also noting the personal and disciplinary issues he faced prior to his death.
• The Minister emphasized the framework for handling workplace harassment and mental health support within the Home Team, citing training, reporting channels, and available services, and stressed that the vast majority of officers maintain high standards.

• In the past three years, NEA encountered about six refused entries per 100 inspection attempts at residential premises, with most residents eventually complying after rescheduling or explanation.
• Under the Control of Vectors and Pesticides Act, offenders can be fined up to $5,000 or jailed up to three months, but no one has been charged for repeated refusal in the past three years, and there are no plans to increase penalties.
• NEA officers wear identifiable polo t-shirts and carry authority cards, and residents can verify their identity by calling the NEA contact centre or checking online, with outreach efforts like posters in dengue cluster areas to build awareness.

• Ms He Ting Ru asked what options are available for Politically Significant Persons (PSPs) to seek clarifications on complying with the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act (FICA), beyond the guidelines issued by the Registrar of Foreign and Political Disclosures.
• The Minister of State for Home Affairs explained that FICA is broadly drafted to counter various foreign interference threats, which can include seemingly normal interactions with PSPs.
• PSPs who are unsure about compliance can take legal advice and refer to the information kit provided by the Registry of Foreign and Political Disclosures.
• The Ministry of Home Affairs has been engaging with MPs, including from the Workers' Party, through briefings, answering questions, and responding to feedback.

• Dr Tan Wu Meng inquired about involving external experts in the investigation of a police officer’s death, the use of the Inquiries Act for external review, and mechanisms for officers to report racial discrimination.
• Mr Darryl David sought data on the number and percentage of internal complaints about prejudice, discrimination, or unfair treatment in the police force over the past five years.
• The Minister of State for Home Affairs indicated that the Minister would address these questions as part of a Ministerial Statement on allegations surrounding the suicide of Sgt Uvaraja s/o Gopal.

• The Ministry of Manpower investigated about 210 cases annually from 2021 to 2023 involving employers receiving kickbacks from migrant workers.
• Each year, approximately 70 employers were taken to task, with about 70% receiving warnings or composition fines and the remainder charged in court.
• Of those charged, around 90% were successfully convicted, while the rest were still undergoing court proceedings.

• The government is coordinating across agencies like MCI, MHA, SPF, IMDA, and CSA to protect Singaporeans from online harms including AI-enabled scams and deepfakes, with social media platforms required to remove scam content and the Online Criminal Harms Act empowering the government to direct platforms to block malicious accounts and content.
• Initiatives such as the upcoming Centre for Advanced Technologies in Online Safety and collaboration with the Home Team Science and Technology Agency aim to enhance deepfake detection capabilities and industry knowledge sharing.
• Public education campaigns like the National Library Board’s S.U.R.E., CSA’s “Unseen Enemy,” and SPF’s “I can ACT against scams,” along with the Scam Public Education Office, are being rolled out to improve digital literacy and cybersecurity awareness.
• The government will continue to monitor and adapt strategies to address the rapidly evolving technological landscape and emerging threats.

• The Ministry of Communications and Information and related agencies are coordinating to combat deepfake-enabled scams through measures like the Online Criminal Harms Act, which allows the government to direct platforms to remove or block scam content.
• Initiatives such as the upcoming Centre for Advanced Technologies in Online Safety and partnerships with law enforcement aim to enhance detection and response to AI-generated audio and videos.
• Public education campaigns like S.U.R.E. and the "I can ACT against scams" effort are being rolled out to improve digital literacy and scam awareness among Singaporeans.

• Wan Rizal sought measures to protect patients' data and steps to enhance security after a nurse was charged with stealing bank details.
• Ong Ye Kung confirmed the incident involved unauthorized access to patients' phones, with no IT system breach, and the nurse was dismissed and charged.
• Public healthcare institutions use secured storage, surveillance cameras, and security personnel to protect patient belongings and will take strict disciplinary or legal action against violators.

• Member Yip Hon Weng asked if the deadline for installing speed limiters in lower-weight lorries can be expedited for public safety and what assistance options are being considered to encourage timely installation.
• Minister K Shanmugam explained that suppliers have only compatible speed limiters for older lorries, so Traffic Police requires heavier lorries to comply in two years and lighter ones in two and a half years, while newer lorries get up to three and a half years due to unavailability of newer speed limiters.
• Traffic Police is collaborating with motor distributors, the Motor Traders Association, and government agencies to promote early installation of speed limiters during regular vehicle maintenance.

• Hazel Poa asked the Minister for Home Affairs about the time taken by Traffic Police to complete investigations into accidents at the 5th, 50th, and 95th percentiles.
• K Shanmugam stated that the Traffic Police does not track the requested percentile data.
• He explained that the duration depends on various factors like the number of vehicles involved and witness availability, with each case differing significantly.

• Mr Murali Pillai asked for data on swatting cases reported to police over the past three years and whether laws need updating to address the harassment involved.
• Minister K Shanmugam stated that police do not track "swatting" cases specifically, but existing laws such as the Miscellaneous Offence (Public Order and Nuisance) Act and the Penal Code are adequate to prosecute such acts.
• The Minister outlined possible charges for swatting, including communicating false messages, false information of a harmful thing, or false information to cause a public servant to misuse power, with penalties of fines, imprisonment, or both.
• He affirmed that the current legal framework can handle swatting incidents without the need for new legislation, as charges can be tailored to the facts of each case.

• Ms Hazel Poa asked whether financial institutions are required to report scam losses to authorities and for the amounts lost in 2022 and 2023 broken down by institution.
• Lawrence Wong, responding for the Prime Minister, stated there is no regulatory requirement for financial institutions to report scam losses to MAS, as MAS already accesses needed data for supervision.
• The total scam losses are available from bi-annual Singapore Police Force statistics based on victims’ police reports, with no specific breakdowns by financial institution provided.

• Murali Pillai asked the Minister for Home Affairs about the number of reports lodged by persons whose addresses were used in scams over the past three years, the offence classification and police investigation practices, and potential assistance measures.
• The Minister, K Shanmugam, stated that the Police do not specifically track this scam modus operandi or the number of such reports, but investigations proceed if a report is made and there is reasonable suspicion of a crime.
• Scammers in these cases may be liable for cheating offences under section 420 of the Penal Code, and the Police will collaborate with online platforms to remove scam content and disable relevant accounts.

• Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim asked the Ministry for Social and Family Development whether it would collaborate with the early childhood sector to develop a Child Safeguarding Framework as part of the safety review.
• Masagos Zulkifli B M M responded that a multi-layered safeguarding system already exists under the Early Childhood Development Centres Act, Regulations, and a Code of Practice, and the focus is on implementation rather than new frameworks.
• The Early Childhood Development Agency is strengthening regulations and the Code of Practice, reviewing penalty provisions for errant operators, and enhancing training curricula to better equip educators in ensuring child safety.

• Ms Denise Phua Lay Peng asked if the Ministry of Home Affairs will set up a separate confinement facility and programme for incarcerated adults with special needs to ensure their safety and better reintegration outcomes.
• The Singapore Prison Service does not have a separate housing facility due to the small number of such inmates but tailors management to their needs, including safety checks and modified rehabilitation programmes.
• SPS collaborates with community agencies to provide specialised reintegration support, such as case management for family, employment, and financial matters.

• The Bill amends four key Acts—PSPM, Moneylenders, Pawnbrokers, and Legal Profession Acts—to align Singapore’s regulatory regimes for precious stones/metals dealers, moneylending, pawnbroking, and legal services with updated FATF standards on countering proliferation financing, requiring businesses to implement risk assessments and internal controls.
• It strengthens the PSPM Act by expanding the definition of “precious product” to cover items priced over S$20,000 regardless of material value, excluding digital payment tokens to avoid double regulation, and introducing new offences and compliance measures.
• The Bill enhances operational effectiveness for PSMDs by allowing suspension or cancellation of registration for non-operating entities, requiring record-keeping post-deregistration, and enabling digital service of documents.
• During the debate, MPs raised concerns about integrating proliferation financing into national anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism strategies and ensuring meaningful industry compliance rather than box-ticking.
• Dennis Tan highlighted lessons from a recent large money laundering case, questioning the adequacy of existing laws and due diligence processes to prevent illicit funds from entering Singapore and supporting the Bill’s preventive measures.

• The government clarified that powers to re-arrest escaped persons from Home Team departments will not be extended to other law enforcement agencies, but they can seek police assistance.
• Police may conduct warrantless searches for arrestable offences under specific safeguards, with sensitive financial information protected under the Official Secrets Act and other guidelines.
• Forensic medical examinations (FME) require consent, with differentiated rules for victims and accused persons, and safeguards for vulnerable individuals, including support services and privacy measures.
• The Serious Sex Offenders and Violent Offenders (SEPP) regime will allow courts to detain dangerous offenders beyond their sentence if they pose a continuing risk, with annual reviews and release conditions.
• The bill also introduces measures for personal bond releases, disclosure rules for sensitive evidence, and oversight mechanisms for detainees, aiming to balance public safety and offender rights.

The debate centered on the Criminal Procedure (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill, which introduces significant changes to Singapore's criminal justice system.

• The Bill proposes a new Sentence for Enhanced Public Protection (SEPP) for dangerous adult offenders convicted of serious violent or sexual crimes, allowing for indeterminate detention beyond a minimum term if they are assessed to remain a threat to society.
• It establishes a legislative framework for Forensic Medical Examinations (FMEs), granting police the power to require them from accused persons to gather crucial evidence, while mandating consent from victims except in specific, time-sensitive circumstances.
• The amendments also codify the prosecution's pre-trial disclosure obligations into law and expand the use of personal bonds as an alternative to bail for certain accused persons before their trials.

• Members of Parliament asked whether further inquiry or consideration was needed regarding former Minister S Iswaran's case after the completion of investigations and the bringing of charges.
• The Prime Minister's Office responded that the specific parliamentary concerns were addressed by Mr Iswaran's resignation, voluntary return of allowances, and the ongoing court proceedings, so no further action by the House was necessary.
• It was noted that suspending an MP under investigation would prejudge wrongdoing, and withholding allowances while on leave of absence is not a general rule, as leave does not imply penalty and each case should be assessed on its facts.
• A Committee of Inquiry was deemed unnecessary because the CPIB had investigated and the courts were handling the case, with any further steps to be considered after court proceedings conclude.

• Patrick Tay Teck Guan asked for the number of cases appealed to the High Court and those denied leave to appeal from 2021 to 2023.
• Tan See Leng reported 74 appeals filed for leave to appeal to the High Court from January 2021 to November 2023.
• Out of those, leave or permission to appeal was granted in only four cases.