As part of an effort to combat rising fraud, the Singaporean government has implemented mandatory caning for scammers, with punishments of up to 24 strokes. These changes to the criminal law, which take effect on December 30th, supplement existing penalties like imprisonment and fines. Individuals involved in scams, including recruiters and those providing their personal information for fraudulent activities, are subject to this form of corporal punishment. The government has cited the concerning increase in scam cases, which accounted for a significant portion of reported crime between 2020 and 2023, as the impetus for these stricter measures.
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In Banda Aceh, Indonesia, two men were publicly caned after being convicted of violating Islamic law due to hugging and kissing. The men, aged 20 and 21, received 80 lashes each in front of an audience. This punishment is allowed under Aceh’s Shariah law, which permits caning for offenses like homosexuality. Human rights groups have criticized the practice as discriminatory and inhumane, despite local support.
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An Islamic court in Indonesia’s Aceh province sentenced two men to 80 public canings each for engaging in sexual acts, specifically hugging and kissing. The men, aged 20 and 21, were arrested in April after being caught by religious police in a park bathroom. The court, applying Islamic law, determined their actions violated regulations against acts that lead to gay sexual relations. While the prosecutor sought 85 lashes, the judges reduced the sentence due to the men’s cooperation and lack of prior convictions.
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John Q. Hosedrinker