NCJ Number
51688
Date Published
1978
Length
10 pages
Annotation
LAWS DIRECTED AGAINST SECRET SOCIETIES, THE USE OF CORPORAL PUNISHMENT, ARMS OFFENCES, DRUG OFFENCES, REHABILITATION PROGRAMS, AND COMMUNITY PROBATION SERVICE ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES OF SECRET SOCIETIES AND DRUG TRAFFICKING ARE VIEWED AS THE MAJOR CRIME PROBLEMS OF SINGAPORE. SECRET SOCIETIES ORIGINALLY BROUGHT TO SINGAPORE BY CHINESE IMMIGRANTS IN THE LATER HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY ARE REPORTED TO HAVE INCREASED THEIR CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES SINCE THE END OF WORLD WAR II. THEY ARE BELIEVED TO BE INVOLVED IN EVERY LUCRATIVE CRIMINAL OPERATION IN SINGAPORE. IN 1958 THE CRIMINAL LAW ORDINANCE WAS AMENDED TO EMPOWER THE POLICE TO DETAIN ANY PERSON SUSPECTED OF BEING AN ACTIVE SECRET SOCIETY MEMBER FOR A MAXIMUM OF 16 DAYS PENDING INQUIRIES FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION TO THE MINISTER FOR A DETENTION ORDER OR A POLICE SUPERVISION ORDER. IF THE MINISTER IS SATISFIED ON THE BASIS OF THE POLICE SUBMISSION THAT IT IS NECESSARY THAT THE SUSPECT BY DETAINED IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY, PEACE, AND GOOD ORDER, HE MAY ORDER THE PERSON TO BE DETAINED FOR ANY PERIOD NOT EXCEEDING 3 YEARS FROM THE DATE OF SUCH AN ORDER. NO FORMAL TRIAL IS REQUIRED FOR SUCH AN ORDER. A POLICE SUPERVISION ORDER ALLOWS THE PERSON TO REMAIN IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT UNDER RESTRICTIVE POLICE SUPERVISION. AS OF 1973, CANING (WHIPPING ON THE BUTTOCKS WITH A RATTAN) WAS MADE A MANDATORY PUNISHMENT FOR MOST CRIMES OF VIOLENCE. IT IS BELIEVED TO BE PARTICULARLY EFFECTIVE AS A DETERRENT AND PREVENTIVE MEASURE. IN 1973, A NEW ARMS OFFENSE ACT WAS PASSED, UNDER WHICH A PERSON FOUND GUILTY OF TRAFFICKING IN FIREARMS CAN BE PUNISHED WITH DEATH OR IMPRISONMENT FOR LIFE, PLUS CANING WITH NOT LESS THAN SIX STROKES. IN 1975, THE MISUSE OF DRUGS ACT WAS AMENDED TO INCREASE THE PENALTIES FOR UNAUTHORIZED TRAFFICKING IN, MANUFACTURE OF, AND IMPORT OR EXPORT OF CONTROLLED DRUGS TO PROVIDE FOR THE SENTENCE OF DEATH WHEN MORE THAN 30 GRAMS OF MORPHINE OR 15 GRAMS OF HEROIN IS INVOLVED AND A LONG SENTENCE OF IMPRISONMENT WHEN THE AMOUNT IS LESS. REHABILITATION PROGRAMS EMPHASIZING THE DEVELOPMENT OF WORK SKILLS ARE DEEMED IMPORTANT IN THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM, AND THE COMMUNITY PROBATION SERVICE, USING VOLUNTEER SERVICES, IS VIEWED AS IMPORTANT IN THE REHABILITATION OF OFFENDERS. THE REPORTED DISCUSSION INITIATED BY CONFERENCE MEMBERS ON THIS PRESENTATION TENDED TO CHALLENGE THE PROVISION FOR EXTENDED DETENTION OF SUSPECTED SECRET SOCIETY MEMBERS WITHOUT A FORMAL TRIAL. (RCB)