Persons Convicted for Offences that Attract Caning

Question:

Mr Patrick Tay Teck Guan: To ask the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs (a) annually from 2015 to 2025, how many accused persons were sentenced to an offence which attracted caning; and (b) of these persons, how many were (i) administered at least one stroke of the cane, (ii) not given caning as they were above the age of 50 years and (iii) how many were women.

Answer:

Mr K Shanmugam, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs:

1. The data for the entire time period and breadth of offences as requested by the Member is not readily available.

2. Based on available data, in 2024, 279 individuals were convicted of a serious sexual or serious violent offence that attract either mandatory or discretionary caning. These offences include, rape, sexual assault, sexual penetration of minors, voluntarily causing grievous hurt, fatal abuse of vulnerable victims, and culpable homicide, which are amongst the most severe offences that attract caning.

3. Of this number, 76 were males below the age of 50 who were sentenced to at least one stroke of the cane, 53 were males aged 50 or above at the time of sentencing, and 13 were females.