Corporal Punishment of Singapore: Background

In the United States, most people don't think of physical abuse as a punishment enforced by the judicial system. However in Singapore, for many crimes, the government has imposed Caning as a punishment (for crimes as little as vandalism to rape to homicide). Caning is the use of a cane (made of rattan) that is 4 feet long and 1/2in. thick and is used for judicial and prison caning. When wet, the cane becomes very malleable. When caning, the person receiving the punishment is tied to a chair bending over. The "caner" then proceeds to remove the persons pants and then whip the person with the cane for up to 24 times. The cane, when in contact with the body, causes severe welts on the buttock seperating skin with lots of blood and extreme scarring. From the most minimal cases, a person with be caned 4 times with the most severe being 24 times. Then, the person being caned is taken to a hospital for examination then released with a fine, or sent to prison.

Also in Singapore, the governments mandates a mandatory death penalty for drug trafficking. Importing quantities as little of 15g of heroin will mean death... if you get caught. Customs and immigration in Singapore is extremely strict, especially at the Singapore-Changi International Airport, and the Seaport, so chances are, you will get caught, and you will get punished. For importing drugs less than the death penalty limit, punishments include caning, prison time, and fines.

    Yong Yui Kong was a man who was sentenced to death for drug trafficking.

Michael Fay is an American who was sentenced to Caning for vandalism in Singapore. President Clinton fought to reduce his punishment, (or simply eliminate it) and was able to reduce from 8 whips, to 4.


Until 2010, Chewing Gum was banned in Singapore. The punishment of using chewing gum in Singapore was first getting fined, and then after multiplt offenses, you get caned. In 2004, Chewing Gum was allowed for theraputic reasons (such as Nicotine gum) and then in 2010, was repealed entirely.
by Wyatt