In a significant ruling that has drawn international condemnation, Singapore's High Court has ordered the caning of a Malaysian man for overstaying his visa, reversing a more lenient decision from a lower court.
The defendant, a 42-year-old from Malaysia whose identity remains protected, initially received a 17-month jail term from a district court. However, the prosecution successfully appealed this sentence, arguing it was "manifestly inadequate" for the severity of the offence.
Justice See Kee Oon presiding over the High Court agreed, stating the original sentence failed to reflect the "gravity of the respondent's conduct and the need for deterrence." The revised punishment now includes three strokes of the cane in addition to the prison term.
International Outcry and Human Rights Concerns
The verdict has sparked immediate criticism from human rights organisations. Amnesty International's Malaysia chapter head, Katrina Jorene Maliamauv, slammed the decision as "a cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment that should have no place in any society."
Singapore remains one of the few developed nations that actively employs judicial caning for a range of offences, predominantly immigration violations, vandalism, and certain violent crimes. The practice involves being struck by a rattan cane on the bare buttocks, often resulting in significant physical injury and lasting scars.
A Pattern of Strict Enforcement
This case is not isolated. The article notes that in 2020, a Chinese national received a comparable sentence of 17 months and three cane strokes for a similar immigration violation. This latest ruling reinforces Singapore's unwavering commitment to its stringent immigration laws, prioritising deterrence above all else.
The High Court's decision sends a clear message that the state will pursue the harshest penalties available for those who breach its immigration rules, despite growing international pressure to abandon corporal punishment.
