Mrs Ong-Chew Peck Wan
Director Corporate Communications Division
for Permanent Secretary
Ministry of Home Affairs

Source: Ministry of Home Affairs Press Release 20 May 2005

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The Editor
TODAY

Dear Sir

We refer to the letter from Boon Chin Aun ("Don't flip-flop over child-sex deterrents", 18 May 05), and wish to clarify and add to what has been said in Parliament.

2 Senior Minister of State for Law and Home Affairs, Assoc Prof Ho Peng Kee, in his parliamentary response on 16 May 05, highlighted the legal problems and practical difficulties (from detection to investigations overseas and eventually bringing witnesses back to Singapore to give evidence) in extending our jurisdiction overseas. He was responding to MPs' further queries after he had said that since 1994, the government knows of only 3 Singaporeans who have been arrested overseas for sex-related offences involving minors under 16 years of age. He also said that we do review our laws and that we would monitor how laws in other countries criminalising sex with minors overseas were implemented.

3 The ministry is indeed currently studying the feasibility of enacting such a law in Singapore, even though the more effective approach would be for the home countries, where the acts take place, to do more and take stronger action against violators on their soil.

4 These are in addition to our current laws which provide for the prosecution of any person in Singapore who organises or makes arrangements for others to have sex with minors overseas, namely, where the act of abetment of the principal offences occurs in Singapore (as provided under Section 108A of the Penal Code, Chapter. 224).

5 We expect to complete our review by the end of this year. This is a complex issue with serious consequences if we make a wrong decision. Hence, it is crucial that a rigorous and thorough study is carried out.

　

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Reply to Ms Susan Long's article "Shock would-be child sex tourists into saying no", 3 June 2005


The Editor
The Straits Times


Dear Sir

I refer to Ms Susan Long's article in the column Thinking Aloud, headlined " Shock would-be child sex tourists into saying no" (Straits Times 28 May 2005).

2 Singapore has in place robust laws which protect minors and women. These include specific provisions in the Penal Code and statutes like the Children and Young Persons Act and the Women's Charter. More importantly, the record will show that the authorities have effectively pursued offenders who victimize minors and women and have prosecuted those who are guilty.

3 All reports of sexual offences are investigated thoroughly by the Police and reviewed by the Attorney General's Chambers. Between 2002 and 2004, we received 34 reports of forced prostitution. After thorough investigation, however, only four cases were substantiated. Although the figures are small and indicates that this is not a significant problem in Singapore, we will of course continue to investigate any such reports seriously and thoroughly.

4 The fact that the number of instances of forced prostitution is presently low in Singapore does not mean that the Government's position on the problem of forced prostitution should be misrepresented and translated as - "not our problem". On the contrary, Singapore is constantly mindful of the fact that, as an open society, we are not insulated from developments in the region and the world, whether these are problems of forced prostitution, sexual abuse of minors, drug trafficking or terrorism.

5 On passing a law to make sex with minors overseas an offence, this is certainly something which we need to and will study carefully. Given the practical challenges to effective extra-territorial enforcement, MHA has been reviewing this comprehensively in relation to developments inside and outside Singapore. We have announced our intention to complete the review by the end of the year, in tandem with our overall review of the Penal Code.

6 Singapore's commitment to protect minors and women in the country is not an issue. Neither is its appreciation of the need for cooperative action in the region to deal with the inter-related character of crime an issue. The challenge for all of us to find practical and meaningful ways, beyond expressions of concern, to make actions count and effectively make a real difference to those we seek to protect whether inside or outside Singapore. This considered approach is not an "about turn" but is consistent with the manner MHA has always taken in addressing complex issues.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs Ong-Chew Peck Wan
Director Corporate Communications Division
for Permanent Secretary
Ministry of Home Affairs