Public safety & law — Topics

18 Feb 2022

Convictions for Offences of Murder under Section 300(b), (c) or (d) of Penal Code 1871 Since 1 January 2013

Murali Pillai asked the Minister for Home Affairs about the number of persons convicted under specific sections of the Penal Code 1871 since 1 January 2013, including those sentenced to life imprisonment or death.
Five persons were convicted of intentional murder under section 300(a) and sentenced to death between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2021.
Fifteen persons were convicted under sections 300(b), (c), or (d), with one sentenced to death and 14 sentenced to life imprisonment in the same period.

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18 Feb 2022

Issuance of Certificates of Substantial Assistance by Public Prosecutor to Persons Convicted under Section 33B(2)(b) of Misuse of Drugs Act 1973 Since 1 January 2013

Between 1 January 2013 and 11 February 2022, the Public Prosecutor issued certificates of substantial assistance to 82 out of 104 convicted couriers in capital drug trafficking cases, leading to life imprisonment sentences instead of the death penalty.
For the remaining 22 couriers who did not receive certificates, 14 were sentenced to death while the other 8 received life imprisonment due to mental abnormality under the law.
The Minister confirmed that the Public Prosecutor declined to issue certificates for 22 persons, with the Court imposing death sentences on 14 of them as they did not qualify for the alternative penalty.

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18 Feb 2022

Fire Fatalities in Past Five Years and Extending Installation of Home Fire Alarm Device to All HDB Residential Units

In the past five years, fire fatalities remained low, with all but one fatality in 2017 occurring in residential premises.
The government is not extending the Home Fire Alarm Device (HFAD) Assistance Scheme to all HDB units, citing stable fire safety in residential premises.
SCDF encourages voluntary HFAD installation for early fire warnings, and the Fire Code was amended in 2018 to mandate HFADs in new and renovated residential units.

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18 Feb 2022

ASEAN's Approach to Combating Rise in Drug Production and Trade in Myanmar and Efforts to Halt Its Export to Surrounding Nations

ASEAN is addressing the surge in drug production and trafficking in Myanmar by maintaining cooperation across sectoral bodies and implementing the ASEAN Cooperation Plan to Tackle Illicit Drug Production and Trafficking in the Golden Triangle (2020–2022) to enhance information sharing and interdiction efforts.
Singapore remains committed to constructive engagement with Myanmar and active participation in ASEAN mechanisms like the ASEAN Drug Monitoring Network and interdiction taskforces to curb drug exports and support regional drug-free goals.
The region’s efforts focus on reducing illicit cultivation, manufacture, and trafficking through coordinated actions, as highlighted in statements like the 2019 East Asia Summit and the 7th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Drug Matters.

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18 Feb 2022

Clarification by Minister for Home Affairs

Minister K Shanmugam clarified that Ms Sylvia Lim's phone has not been hacked by Singapore state agencies during the period between her question and his response, after checking with the Security and Intelligence Division.
He stated that if members of Parliament suspect hacking, they should contact MHA for a thorough investigation, and highlighted that raising such issues in Parliament may be for publicity rather than resolution.
The Minister emphasized that MPs are high-value targets for foreign agencies and that security agencies must monitor potential threats, noting the normal practice is not to confirm or deny such matters.
He expressed interest in seeing the specific Apple notification to Ms Lim, as MHA would investigate if it indicates targeting by a state-sponsored agency.

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18 Feb 2022

Update on Cyber Security Agency's Investigations into Computer Security Initiative Consultancy

The Cyber Security Agency investigated COSEINC after the US Department of Commerce added it to its Entity List, which requires US persons to obtain a licence to export regulated items to the company.
COSEINC provided cybersecurity training services to the Singapore Government on standard contractual terms, but the Government found no evidence that the company breached Singapore's cybersecurity laws.
The Government stated that companies contravening local laws and regulations will be dealt with in accordance with the law.

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18 Feb 2022

Use and Deployment of Israeli Company QuaDream's Spyware or Other Technologies in Singapore

Leon Perera asked whether the Government uses or deploys Israeli company QuaDream's spyware or similar technologies in Singapore.
The Minister of State for Home Affairs declined to confirm specifics, citing national security reasons and emphasizing that operational details cannot be discussed publicly.
Sylvia Lim raised concerns about potential state-sponsored hacking of her iPhone and asked for assurance that Singapore government agencies are not targeting her, but the Minister only suggested she file a police report if she has concerns.

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18 Feb 2022

Rationale for Legislating and Making High-rise Littering an Offence Despite Inherent Difficulty in Enforcement

High-rise littering is already covered under the Environmental Public Health Act 1987 as part of general littering offences, with no separate legislation needed.
Enforcement against high-rise littering is pursued due to its clear visibility and impact, while second-hand smoke in homes faces greater challenges such as technological limitations and privacy concerns.
The government is exploring technological solutions, community mediation, and public education to address second-hand smoke, while maintaining focus on high-rise littering enforcement.

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18 Feb 2022

Incidents of Deliberate Laser Point Beam Strikes at Pedestrians and Motor Vehicle Users Reported in Past Five Years

Police received four reports of deliberate laser pointer strikes at pedestrians and motor vehicles between 2017 and 2021, with two cases involving the same perpetrator who was sentenced to two weeks’ imprisonment.
In two cases, the perpetrators were not identified, while the convicted individual was found guilty of a rash act endangering personal safety.
Offenders may face penalties under the Penal Code or Protection from Harassment Act, including fines up to S$5,000 or imprisonment up to six months.
Victims are advised to lodge a police report as recourse following such incidents.

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18 Feb 2022

Divorce and Child Custody Cases where Allegations of Child Abuse to Prevent Access were Proven False in Last Three Years

The Ministry could not provide a specific number of cases where false child abuse allegations were used to prevent access in divorce proceedings, as such data is not tracked, but furnishing false information is an offence punishable by fines or imprisonment, with an average of about 80 convictions annually from 2019 to 2021 for such offences generally.
The government is introducing measures to enforce child access, including orders for additional access, compensation, counselling, bonds, or fines, and has expanded family support services like FAM@FSCs to promote co-parenting and reduce acrimony for the child's well-being.
While counselling is encouraged and courts can order it, making it mandatory for children or parents is avoided to prevent added stress, with a balanced approach focusing on restoring relationships for effective co-parenting.

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15 Feb 2022

Clarification by Minister, Prime Minister’s Office and Leader of the House

The Leader of the House made factual corrections to her opening and reply speeches, clarifying that references to Ms Lim and Ms Khan pertained to Ms Khan's clarification and the timing of possible truth-telling.
She corrected a misquotation of the Committee of Privileges Report, updating the paragraph references and the specific wording attributed to Mr Singh regarding instructions to tell the truth.
The Leader also refined the description of Mr Faisal Manap’s transgressions, changing “refused to give documents” to “refused to identify documents” in the recommendation for referral to the Public Prosecutor.

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15 Feb 2022

Proposal to Review Sentencing Framework for Animal Cruelty and Abuse and Wildlife Trafficking and Possession Cases

Mr. Louis Ng asked if the Ministry would review sentencing for animal cruelty and wildlife trafficking cases, seeking a timeline or reasons for refusal.
The Ministry confirmed a review of penalties for wildlife trafficking and possession under the Endangered Species Act to enhance deterrence against illegal trade under CITES.
A bill to amend the Endangered Species Act will be introduced in Parliament in the first half of 2022 following public consultation.
The Ministry is also reviewing penalties for animal cruelty and abuse under the Animals and Birds Act to ensure they remain effective deterrents.
Stakeholder and public consultations will be conducted as part of the review process for animal cruelty penalties.

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15 Feb 2022

Harness Artificial Intelligence and Technology to Combat Cybercrimes in Light of Increasing Number of Phishing Scam

Mr Christopher de Souza asked how AI and technology can be used to fight cybercrimes amid rising phishing scams.
Mrs Josephine Teo said the issue will be addressed in three Ministerial Statements by Lawrence Wong, herself, and Desmond Tan.
The upcoming statements are set to cover Singapore’s approach to combating cybercrimes using AI and technology.

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15 Feb 2022

Measures to Prevent Illegal Purchase of e-cigarettes and e-liquids and Studies on Youths' Views on Vaping and Awareness of Its Harmful Side Effects

The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has monitored illicit online sales, conducted 201 operations from 2018 to 2021, and collaborated with platforms like Instagram and Facebook to remove over 4,200 illegal postings in 2021, while also intercepting illegal imports at borders.
A 2019 Health Promotion Board (HPB) survey found that almost seven in 10 young people were unaware that e-cigarettes contain harmful chemicals, prompting efforts to educate students through school programs and training for educators.
When students are caught using or possessing e-cigarettes, they face school disciplinary actions, are reported to HSA for possible fines, and are required to attend HPB cessation programs with counsellor support.
MOH, HSA, and HPB will continue to enhance measures to curb the supply and demand of e-cigarettes to protect public health.

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15 Feb 2022

Litigants-in-person in Family Law Cases Annually from 2019 to 2021

The Ministry of Law does not track the number of family law cases involving litigants-in-person (LIPs) by gender, education level, prior legal aid attempts, or reasons for self-representation.
Various measures are in place to support LIPs, including online information resources, a simplified divorce track for amicable cases, and an online filing system (iFAMS) designed to assist with family law applications without legal representation.
The Ministry, together with the Judiciary and MSF, continuously reviews family law matters to ensure access to justice regardless of personal circumstances and plans to explore further improvements in this area.

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15 Feb 2022

Cases of Road Rage and Aggressive Behaviour Involving Motor Vehicles in Past Three Years

The Minister for Home Affairs reported that the number of reported road rage and aggressive driving incidents involving motor vehicles decreased from 48 in 2019 to 36 in 2021, with corresponding drops in police enforcement actions.
The government believes current laws, including stiffer penalties introduced in 2019 and 2021 amendments allowing lifetime driving disqualification for road rage offences, are sufficient to deter such behaviour.
Authorities will continue to monitor the situation and make further adjustments to road safety measures if necessary.

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15 Feb 2022

Individuals Involved in Financial Crimes and Deemed Credit Risk and Needing Ministry's Intervention to Open Bank Accounts from 2012 to 2021

From 2012 to 2021, only six requests for assistance were received from ex-offenders unable to open bank accounts, with four successfully opened following intervention by Singapore Prisons Service, Yellow Ribbon Singapore, and the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
Banks may deny account openings due to concerns over serious financial crimes like money laundering or scams, but credit risk is not typically a factor in account opening; limited-purpose accounts are available for daily needs.
Since 2015, POSB has collaborated with Singapore Prisons Service to help local ex-offenders open accounts using a discharge letter, with service charges waived for up to a year.

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15 Feb 2022

Steps to Ensure Anti-Scam Division of Commercial Affairs Department Sufficiently Resourced against Scam Scourge

Murali Pillai inquired about the steps to ensure the Anti-Scam Division is adequately resourced to combat scams.
K Shanmugam confirmed the issue would be addressed in upcoming Ministerial Statements from Lawrence Wong, Josephine Teo, and Desmond Tan.
The debate highlighted a structured government response through coordinated ministerial addresses.

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15 Feb 2022

Fires in Condominiums Caused by Discarded Cigarette Butts in Past Three Years

Joan Pereira asked the Minister for Home Affairs about the number of fires in condominiums caused by discarded cigarette butts over the past three years and whether surveillance cameras could be installed with NEA and MCSTs to catch offenders.
The Minister responded that the number of such fires has been low, with five, four, and four fires recorded in 2019, 2020, and 2021 respectively.
The National Environment Agency enforces anti-littering laws in public areas, while condominium MCSTs can implement by-laws and install surveillance cameras in common areas through special resolutions.
A 2020 Penal Code amendment presumes a person caused or contributed to a dangerous fire if it occurs within 60 minutes of them illegally disposing of a cigarette butt, with penalties including up to seven years' imprisonment, a fine, or both.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force collaborates with Neighbourhood Committees and MCSTs to promote fire safety awareness among residents.

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15 Feb 2022

Efforts to Ensure Mindef and SAF's Vendors Maintain Best Practices and Stay abreast of Cyber Threats in Light of Data Breach Incidences

The Government requires vendors to follow industry-standard cybersecurity measures, such as updated anti-virus software, with quarterly reviews to ensure relevance to current threats.
Vendors handling sensitive systems are audited annually, with less critical ones audited every two to three years, and must submit remediation plans within two weeks of audit findings.
Repeat data breaches by vendors result in stricter penalties, including liquidated damages, contract termination, debarment from future government contracts, and possible criminal liability under the Personal Data Protection Act.

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