Public safety & law — Topics

4 Oct 2022

Illegal Modifications to Motor Vehicle Involved in Tanjong Pagar Traffic Accident on 13 February 2021

The Minister confirmed that replacing the car's original charge pipes with aftermarket parts was not an illegal modification under LTA regulations, as they do not affect vehicle safety.
The Traffic Police conducted a mechanical inspection after the accident and found no illegal modifications on the car, so no further action was taken in that regard.
While the extensive damage prevented a full inspection, agencies did not pursue tracing the workshop to assess other potential modifications, as the investigation already confirmed the car's compliance with regulations.

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4 Oct 2022

Protecting Young People and Jobseekers from Overseas Job Scams and Human Trafficking Syndicates

The Minister for Home Affairs highlighted that public awareness is key, with an annual anti-scam campaign and collaborations with schools and higher learning institutions to educate young people on identifying overseas job scams and trafficking risks.
Singapore is actively engaged in regional cooperation through ASEAN platforms like the Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime and its Working Group on Trafficking in Persons to tackle these syndicates collectively.
The Minister emphasized the importance of vigilance against unsolicited job offers promising high salaries, as part of broader efforts to protect Singaporeans both domestically and overseas from such threats.

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4 Oct 2022

Tax Evasion Offences Detected and Adequacy of Deterrent Measures in Place

IRAS investigated 465 tax evasion cases from FY2019 to FY2021, with 141 in FY2019, 192 in FY2020, and 132 in FY2021.
Detection relies on data analytics, intelligence, audits, and whistleblower reports, with penalties including fines, imprisonment, and up to four times the evaded tax.
Whistleblowers may receive 15% of recovered tax (capped at $100,000), though most are not motivated by rewards.
The current framework is deemed sufficient for deterrence, and no immediate review of penalties or rewards is planned.

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4 Oct 2022

Ongoing Review of Prevention of Corruption Act 1960

The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) concluded its review of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1960 and found that the existing provisions are effective and do not require amendments.
The review considered suggestions from Members of Parliament, including on corporate liability, and noted that the current law already empowers prosecution of corporate bodies involved in corruption.
The legislative framework, including complementary laws like the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act, is deemed sufficient to deter corporate corruption.
Singapore’s anti-corruption framework is robust, backed by strong enforcement, political will, and public vigilance, and is internationally recognized.
CPIB will continue to enhance its capabilities and remain vigilant to address evolving corruption threats without complacency.

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4 Oct 2022

Cryptocurrency Investment Companies Setting Up Operations and Measures in Place to Prevent Money Laundering and Fraud

The Prime Minister's response highlighted that Singapore regulates cryptocurrency activities under the Payment Services Act, focusing on anti-money laundering and fraud prevention, with the Monetary Authority of Singapore administering a rigorous licensing process that has turned away many applicants.
MAS conducts surveillance to identify and shut down unlicensed cryptocurrency service providers, referring suspicious cases to the Police for investigation and listing them on an Investor Alert List to warn the public.
MAS and the Police collaborate on public advisories to alert consumers about fraudulent cryptocurrency investment websites and advise checking MAS’ website for licensed entities.

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4 Oct 2022

Prevalence and Regulation of Cryptocurrency Transactions

Yip Hon Weng inquired about the prevalence of privacy coins, privacy wallets, and mixers in Singapore and the government's regulatory stance.
Tharman Shanmugaratnam stated that anonymity-enhancing crypto tools are high-risk for money laundering and terrorism financing, prompting the FATF to issue guidance and MAS to impose stronger controls on regulated digital payment token service providers.
MAS requires these providers to assess risks, monitor transactions, and report higher-risk activities, though most licensed providers do not offer privacy coins and no data exists on peer-to-peer use of privacy wallets or mixers.

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4 Oct 2022

Unauthorised PayNow Transactions Reported and Funds Recovered

The Prime Minister reported 477 banking phishing scams involving PayNow in 2021 with a median loss of $3,400, and 133 cases in the first half of 2022 with a median loss of $1,200, noting that recovery rates for such transactions are not available.
Anti-scam measures by MAS and ABS include default transaction limits of $5,000 or lower and notification thresholds of $100 or lower, which apply to PayNow, with banks adapting defences like temporarily lowering limits to counter attacks.
Consumers are urged to stay vigilant by never sharing banking credentials, avoiding links in SMS or emails purportedly from banks, and using official banking apps to reduce risks.

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4 Oct 2022

Economic Impact of Imposing Ban on Transporting Workers on Back of Lorries

Ms He Ting Ru asked whether the Ministry of Transport had studied or would consider studying the economic impact and practical challenges of banning worker transport on lorry backs.
Minister S Iswaran responded that the Ministry is engaging stakeholders to understand sector-specific needs rather than commissioning a formal academic study.
He added that new safety measures for workers on lorries will be announced later in the year, urging employers to prioritize worker welfare.

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4 Oct 2022

Monitoring Fraudulent Claims in Workfare Income Supplement Scheme

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Ministry of Manpower whether it monitors for fraud in Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) claims, the rate of fraudulent claims by firms, and if there are plans to audit firms for "ghost" employees.
Minister Tan See Leng explained that WIS eligibility is automatically assessed based on CPF contributions for employees and declared income for self-employed persons, with data analytics used to detect unusual hiring patterns and audits conducted on income declarations.
Suspicious companies are flagged for on-site inspections, and suspected fraud cases are referred to the Singapore Police Force, which found two fraudulent WIS cases over the last three years, leading to recovery of disbursed funds.
MOM and CPF Board plan to continue reviewing processes and enhancing fraud detection capabilities to better identify and deter fraudulent WIS claims.

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4 Oct 2022

Coordination between Police and Banks when Scams are Reported

Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked whether the Police immediately contact banks to track and freeze accounts used in PayNow scams to prevent further fraud.
K Shanmugam confirmed that Police trace fund flows and swiftly freeze suspected bank accounts through the Anti-Scam Centre to block further transfers, including via PayNow.
Since July 2022, six major banks in Singapore have co-located staff at the Anti-Scam Centre to facilitate rapid coordination with Police.

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4 Oct 2022

Prosecution and Convictions under Organised Crimes Act

Mr Murali Pillai asked about convictions, orders issued, confiscated benefits, and groups crippled under the Organised Crimes Act.
Minister K Shanmugam stated that 40 persons have been convicted under the Act, and 10 organised crime groups have been investigated for offences including remote gambling, computer misuse, drug-related crimes, and corruption.
No Organised Crime Prevention Orders or Financial Reporting Orders have been issued to date, and the Civil Confiscation Regime has not been used to confiscate benefits from organised crime activities.

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4 Oct 2022

Property Agents who Failed to Take Due Diligence Measures for Anti-money Laundering-related Lapses in Breach of Estates Agents Act

Between September 2020 and September 2022, the Council for Estate Agencies warned 27 property agents for failing to conduct required due diligence checks on customers.
These lapses constituted breaches under the Estate Agents Act, and no purchase transactions were voided or aborted as a result.
Property agents must perform due diligence and report suspicious transactions under the Act, with non-compliance subject to disciplinary action.
New requirements under the Developers (Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing) Act will impose similar customer due diligence obligations on developers.

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4 Oct 2022

Assessment of Mental Health and Well-being of Police and Auxiliary Police Officers Who Bear Arms

The Ministry of Home Affairs provides continuous mental health support for police and auxiliary officers, including resilience training, in-house psychological services, 24/7 helplines, and confidential external counselling, with confidentiality emphasized to encourage help-seeking without career disadvantage.
Officers undergo security, medical, and psychological assessments before bearing firearms, and supervisors are trained to identify and support those in distress, with reassignment possible if an officer is deemed unfit to carry arms.
The Ministry acknowledged concerns about suicide rates among officers, noting the rate is lower than the national average, and committed to ongoing efforts to destigmatize mental health support and consider further research or toolkits to address unique stressors faced by frontline responders.
Suggestions such as geo-fencing technology for auxiliary officers were noted, with a balance required between job needs and privacy, while the Ministry continues to engage officers and families to detect and address potential stressors.

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4 Oct 2022

Extending Maximum Age of Vocational Driving Licences for Drivers Certified Medically Fit

Dr Amy Khor stated that a medical study recommended against raising the current 75-year age limit for vocational driving licences, as older drivers have significantly higher accident rates, and the LTA has decided not to increase the limit for now but will continue periodic reviews.
Ms Yeo Wan Ling highlighted that drivers want to continue working past 75 due to good health and financial needs, and suggested allowing annual medical checks for a restricted licence with limited hours or routes.
The Minister acknowledged the drivers' request, noted past extensions of the age limit, and said the LTA will consider such suggestions in future reviews while weighing safety and administrative feasibility.

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3 Oct 2022

Extend Mandatory Safety Review to All industries to Inculcate Safety First Culture in All Workplaces

Melvin Yong asked whether the Ministry will extend the mandatory Safety Time Out (STO) from high-risk sectors to all industries, and how many companies failed to meet the September 2022 STO deadline.
The Ministry of Manpower explained the STO was targeted at construction, manufacturing, marine, process, transport and storage, and companies using heavy vehicles, with compliance checks ongoing since October 2022.
The Ministry highlighted that the STO checklist is relevant to all industries and has introduced broader measures like a Code of Practice for boards and expanded StartSAFE support for SMEs to foster a safety-first culture across all workplaces.

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3 Oct 2022

Dark Web Crimes and Cryptocurrency-related Crimes in Past Two Years

Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Home Affairs about the number of people apprehended for dark web crimes in the past two years, the three most common crime types, and whether cryptocurrency transactions are increasingly abetting illegal activities.
K Shanmugam responded that the authorities do not track crimes committed specifically via the dark web, so a specific number of apprehensions cannot be provided.
The number of crimes involving cryptocurrency transfers has risen significantly over the last three years, from 94 cases in 2019 to 498 in 2021, reflecting growing cryptocurrency usage.
Despite the increase, cryptocurrency-related crimes remain a small proportion of total crimes, with the majority being cheating offences.
The trend indicates more illegal activities are being facilitated by cryptocurrency transactions, aligning with the broader rise in cryptocurrency adoption.

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3 Oct 2022

Cases of Resellers of Luxury Items Defrauding Buyers and Plans for Public Education and Regulation

Police do not specifically track cases of luxury item resellers defrauding buyers, and defining a clear list of luxury items is difficult.
The Inter-Ministry Committee on Scams leads public education, working with e-commerce platforms to introduce Transaction Safety Ratings and advise buyers to verify seller legitimacy.
There are no announced plans to specifically regulate resellers of luxury items, with current efforts focused on general scam prevention and consumer education.

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3 Oct 2022

Developing Responses to Expected Spike in Crimes from Increased Digital Activities and Transactions in Metaverse

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will apply existing laws like the Penal Code and Computer Misuse Act to crimes in the metaverse, with past amendments such as the Protection from Harassment Act demonstrating a commitment to updating legislation for online harms.
MHA is actively monitoring developments in the metaverse and plans to take further steps as needed to address novel crimes, while acknowledging challenges like overseas perpetrators and anonymity that complicate investigations.
The government recognizes that enforcement alone is insufficient and will collaborate with industry stakeholders, online service providers, and the public to enhance online safety through education and partnerships.

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3 Oct 2022

Audits to Improve Road Safety

Member Joan Pereira inquired whether the Ministry of Transport would engage the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) for periodic road safety audits and sought details on audit frequency and assessment of recommendations.
Minister S Iswaran explained that the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and Traffic Police (TP) already conduct comprehensive road safety measures, including regular audits, infrastructure enhancements like Silver Zones, and driver training and enforcement.
He noted that road fatality rates have improved over the past decade, with agencies closely monitoring trends and using existing data to implement safety improvements without the need for external audits at this time.
The government has assessed that engaging iRAP is unnecessary given the current holistic approach and ongoing efforts to enhance road safety through multiple initiatives.

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3 Oct 2022

Revision to Audit Requirements with New Workplace Safety Code of Practice

Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked if the Ministry for Manpower will review and revise its current audit requirements for workplace safety alongside the new Workplace Safety Code of Practice.
Tan See Leng stated that the scope of workplace safety and health audits is based on established industry standards and is reviewed when occupational safety and health management standards are revised, with the last revision in 2018.
The audit standards comprehensively cover key components such as worker participation, leadership commitment, and organizational roles, and MOM will review audit requirements after the new Code of Practice for Chief Executives' and Board of Directors' duties is gazetted and implemented.

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