Singapore bill makes jail default for scam offenders 21 and under
Why it matters: The move would override a High Court stance favoring probation as scam losses topped S$913.1 million in 2025.
Singapore introduced the Sentencing (Scams) Bill on Nov. 3 to make jail or reformative training the default sentence for people 21 and younger convicted of scam or scam-enabling offenses. The proposal follows a September High Court ruling that shifted four young offenders from reformative training to probation and community-based penalties, finding custody should not be the starting point. The Ministry of Home Affairs said the bill is meant to restore Parliament’s deterrence-first approach unless exceptional circumstances apply. The change would cover offenses committed before, on or after the law takes effect. Police investigated more than 1,000 young people over scam reports in 2025, while youth cheating and related cases rose 37% to 1,114.