Young scam offenders to face jail or reformative training by default under proposed Bill: MHA内政部提议，根据拟议法案，年轻的诈骗犯将默认面临监禁或改造培训。
Reformative training and jail time should be the default sentencing options for scammers and those who facilitate scams, according to a Bill proposed in Parliament on Tuesday (Nov 3).The Sentencing (Scams) Bill, introduced by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), reaffirms Parliament's intention that scam and scam-enabling offences should be met with strong deterrent sentences because of the serious harm...
Reformative training and jail time should be the default sentencing options for scammers and those who facilitate scams, according to a Bill proposed in Parliament on Tuesday (Nov 3).
The Sentencing (Scams) Bill, introduced by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), reaffirms Parliament's intention that scam and scam-enabling offences should be met with strong deterrent sentences because of the serious harm they cause to victims.
However, on Sept 10, the High Court published its judgement regarding the case of Mohamed Erzan Taib Zohri, one among six young offenders who allegedly committed scam-enabling offences.
The court allowed four of the six appeals and replaced the offenders' reformative training sentences with probation.
The High Court also held that reformative training or imprisonment should not be the default sentence for young offenders who commit scam-enabling offences. According to MHA, this is inconsistent with Parliament's intention that such offences should generally attract deterrent sentences.
Under the proposed Bill, the High Court's decision will not be binding on and need not be considered by any court when considering any sentence imposed on scam offenders or scam-enabling offences, or when hearing appeals relating to such sentences.
In addition, courts, except the Youth Court, should treat reformative training or imprisonment as the primary and default sentencing options for offenders aged 21 and below, unless there are exceptional circumstances, the Bill states.
The Bill does not affect juvenile offenders whose cases are dealt with in the Youth Court.
Youth offences relating to scams on the rise
Scams remain the most prevalent crime type in Singapore, with an average of 90 scam reports amounting to $2 million in losses each day in the first half of 2026, MHA said.
Over 1,000 youths were investigated in connection with scam reports in 2025, while the number of youths who committed cheating and related offences rose 37 per cent, from 814 in 2024 to 1,114 in 2025.
These youths were largely involved in scam cases as mules, according to MHA.
"We need to do more to deter young offenders from being enticed by the prospect of quick financial gains to commit such offences," the ministry stated.
MHA added: "If a deterrent approach is not taken, Singapore's scam and youth offending situation could deteriorate."
MHA emphasised that scams can cause serious harm to victims and must be met with a strong deterrent message, which the Bill seeks to reinforce.
khooyihang@asiaone.com
根据周二（11 月 3 日）在议会提出的一项法案，对诈骗犯和协助诈骗者，应默认采用改造培训和监禁作为量刑选择。
由内政部提出的《量刑（诈骗）法案》重申了议会的意图，即诈骗和助长诈骗的罪行应受到严厉的威慑性判决，因为这些罪行会对受害者造成严重伤害。
然而，9 月 10 日，高等法院公布了穆罕默德·埃尔赞·泰布·佐赫里一案的判决，他是六名涉嫌犯有诈骗罪的年轻罪犯之一。
法院准许了六项上诉中的四项，并将罪犯的改造培训刑罚改为缓刑。
高等法院还裁定，对于犯有协助诈骗罪行的青少年罪犯，不应默认判处改造培训或监禁。内政部认为，这与议会的意图相悖，议会希望此类罪行通常应受到具有威慑力的判决。
根据拟议法案，高等法院的裁决对任何法院均不具有约束力，在审理对诈骗罪犯或协助诈骗罪犯判刑或审理与此类判决有关的上诉时，无需考虑高等法院的裁决。
此外，该法案规定，除青少年法庭外，各级法院应将改造培训或监禁作为 21 岁及以下罪犯的主要和默认判决选项，除非有特殊情况。
该法案不影响在少年法庭审理案件的未成年罪犯。
青少年诈骗犯罪案件呈上升趋势
新加坡内政部表示，诈骗仍然是新加坡最普遍的犯罪类型，2026 年上半年平均每天有 90 起诈骗报案，损失达 200 万美元。
2025 年，有 1000 多名青少年因诈骗举报而接受调查，而犯有欺诈及相关罪行的青少年人数增加了 37%，从 2024 年的 814 人增加到 2025 年的 1114 人。
据内政部称，这些青年大多是诈骗案件中的“运钞车”成员。
该部表示：“我们需要采取更多措施，阻止青少年罪犯被快速获得经济利益的前景所诱惑而犯下此类罪行。”
内政部补充道：“如果不采取威慑措施，新加坡的诈骗和青少年犯罪情况可能会恶化。”
内政部强调，诈骗行为可能对受害者造成严重伤害，必须发出强有力的威慑信号，而该法案正是为了加强这种威慑作用。
khooyihang@asiaone.com