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SINGAPORE – All laws, what constitutes a crime and what should be an appropriate sentence for a crime should reflect the values and social customs of Singaporean society, said Singapore’s Minister of Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong , on Saturday (September 19).
“Therefore, crimes and sentencing must resonate with these values in society,” said Mr. Tong, who is also the Second Minister of Justice.
He spoke at the beginning of a virtual dialogue with 50 people between the ages of 15 and 35 in which they discussed Singapore’s criminal justice system and the sentencing framework for causing harm and sexual crimes.
The dialogue was organized by the National Youth Council (NYC), the Home Office (MHA) and the Ministry of Law (MinLaw) to help young people better understand the sentencing process in the criminal justice system and hear their perspective on it.
It follows the case of 23-year-old NUS dental student Yin Zi Qin, who received community sentences in July for attacking his ex-girlfriend in May last year. He tried to strangle her and pressed his thumb against her eye, causing her to bleed.
The case led the government to review the sanctions framework in similar cases.
New York City said it surveyed 500 young people between the ages of 15 and 35 between July 22 and 23, and nine out of 10 of them felt the sentence in the dental case was too lenient.
More than three-quarters or 76 percent of female respondents surveyed believed that Yin’s acts were serious and 69 percent of male respondents believed the same.
Mr. Tong said that many people were disappointed with the sentence, adding that he understood the “emotions behind the feelings.”
Noting that the court’s decision must be respected, he added: “But, at the same time, we have the right to ask: what are the relevant legal policies in a matter like this and how do we ensure that the judgments are consistent with the society? values? “
Mr. Tong also emphasized that some offenders, especially those who are young and who committed crimes that are not so serious, deserve a second chance.
He urged participants, which included students and working adults, to discuss which cases should have a rehabilitation option and the role it plays in Singapore’s sentencing regime.
During the dialogue, one view that emerged was that rehabilitation should be a more important consideration for younger offenders during sentencing to reduce their risk of recidivism.
But the seriousness and community impact of their crimes still need to be taken into account, participants said.
But they also pointed out that society must accept more ex-offenders, allowing their reintegration into society.
In a Facebook post after the event, Mr. Tong said that MHA and MinLaw will take the comments shared during the dialogue into consideration in their review of the sentencing framework.
MHA and MinLaw have started work on the review and when it is completed a ministerial statement will be made in Parliament.
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