(Singapore, 19th) Singapore has recently proposed legislative amendments that could subject fraudsters to 6 to 24 strokes of the cane. KMT legislator Hung Meng-kai believes that Taiwan should consider whether it can learn from Singapore's measures to effectively deter crime. In response, doctor Jiang Guan-yu has presented a different opinion.
Hung Meng-kai believes that, like Singapore, Taiwan also suffers from rampant fraud, and that repeated amendments to the law have failed to address the root of the problem. He, along with several other opposition legislators, shares the view that caning appears to be one possible deterrent against fraud syndicates. On the other hand, DPP legislator Chuang Jui-hsiung criticized that caning is not a modern legal punishment, and that setting such a precedent would be endless and would lead to setbacks in human rights.
Doctor Jiang Guan-yu posted a different opinion on Facebook on the 17th, stating that, first, caning does not only have immediate effects: afterwards, complex wound infections, cellulitis, and abscesses requiring surgery may occur. At that point, will the costs be covered by the national health insurance or paid by the offenders themselves? Secondly, Singaporean law requires that a doctor be present during caning and to confirm beforehand that the offender's health can withstand it. During the process, should the doctor deem it unsuitable to continue, the caning must be stopped immediately. Whether this would raise other issues in Taiwan remains to be seen.
Jiang bluntly stated that if the doctor agrees but the offender later develops a wound infection, sepsis, or dies from drug-resistant bacteria, who is accountable? "Our criteria may very likely differ from Singapore's national conditions," he said. Furthermore, due to climate change, soft tissue infections from wounds can easily cause death, which is a major issue in hospitals.
Many netizens commented that there should be no sympathy for criminals, saying "If their wound worsens, they deserve it," "Of course they should pay out of pocket," and "If they don't want to pay, they can let it heal naturally." Others remarked that since losses to fraud in Taiwan are so high—"Over NT$400 million is lost each day on average, paying doctors with NT$400 million is more than enough."
On October 14, Singapore's Parliament had its first reading of the Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill. Notably, the government decided to use caning as a countermeasure against the increasingly rampant fraud crimes.
Hung Meng-kai believes that, like Singapore, Taiwan also suffers from rampant fraud, and that repeated amendments to the law have failed to address the root of the problem. He, along with several other opposition legislators, shares the view that caning appears to be one possible deterrent against fraud syndicates. On the other hand, DPP legislator Chuang Jui-hsiung criticized that caning is not a modern legal punishment, and that setting such a precedent would be endless and would lead to setbacks in human rights.
Doctor Jiang Guan-yu posted a different opinion on Facebook on the 17th, stating that, first, caning does not only have immediate effects: afterwards, complex wound infections, cellulitis, and abscesses requiring surgery may occur. At that point, will the costs be covered by the national health insurance or paid by the offenders themselves? Secondly, Singaporean law requires that a doctor be present during caning and to confirm beforehand that the offender's health can withstand it. During the process, should the doctor deem it unsuitable to continue, the caning must be stopped immediately. Whether this would raise other issues in Taiwan remains to be seen.
Jiang bluntly stated that if the doctor agrees but the offender later develops a wound infection, sepsis, or dies from drug-resistant bacteria, who is accountable? "Our criteria may very likely differ from Singapore's national conditions," he said. Furthermore, due to climate change, soft tissue infections from wounds can easily cause death, which is a major issue in hospitals.
Many netizens commented that there should be no sympathy for criminals, saying "If their wound worsens, they deserve it," "Of course they should pay out of pocket," and "If they don't want to pay, they can let it heal naturally." Others remarked that since losses to fraud in Taiwan are so high—"Over NT$400 million is lost each day on average, paying doctors with NT$400 million is more than enough."
On October 14, Singapore's Parliament had its first reading of the Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill. Notably, the government decided to use caning as a countermeasure against the increasingly rampant fraud crimes.