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Source:
www.mha.gov.sg |
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Oral Answer to Parliamentary
Question on a) how many girls and women have been victims of sex
crimes and/or financial loss from knowing the offenders through
the Internet; and b) will the Ministry consider imposing stiffer
penalties on those who prey on young girls through the Internet.,
17 July 2007 |
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Mdm Cynthia Phua: |
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To ask the Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister for Home Affairs: |
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(a) how many girls and women have been
victims of sex crimes and/or financial loss from knowing the offenders
through the Internet; and |
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(b) will the Ministry consider imposing
stiffer penalties on those who prey on young girls through the Internet. |
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Assoc Prof Ho Peng Kee: |
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There were 124 reported cases of
females becoming victims of sex crimes as a result of them knowing
the offenders through the Internet between 2001 and 2006. |
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Of these reported cases, 80 cases (or
about two-thirds) involved victims who were below 16 years of age.
Of these 124 cases, two of them also involved the victims¨
property being stolen. |
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The number of cases of
Internet-related sexual crimes forms about 1.5 % of the total
number of sexual crimes. |
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Over the years, there has not been any
significant increase in the number of Internet-related sexual
crimes but this remains an area of concern as it mainly involves
young victims. |
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To address this threat, Police has
embarked on several crime intervention actions by working closely
with the Ministry of Education (MOE) and Ministry of Community
Development, Youth and Sports to conduct training sessions,
workshops, programmes and crime awareness talks. |
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The current legal provisions and
penalties for these sexual offences are adequate. |
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The penalties for the offence of rape
under the Penal Code carry an imprisonment term of up to 20 years
and option of fine and caning. |
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The penalties for the offence of
carnal connection (that is, having sexual intercourse with a girl
under 16) under the Women¨s Charter carry an imprisonment term of
up to 5 years and option of fine up to $10,000. |
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In view of the relatively small number
of Internet-related sexual crime cases reported over the years,
there is no need to provide for enhanced penalties in existing
offences when the offence is committed via the Internet. |
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Source:
www.mha.gov.sg News Release 17
Jul 2007 |
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FrontPage Edition: Wed 18 July 2007
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