caning A form of corporal punishment where a criminal’s buttocks are whipped with a rattan cane (known as a rotan). Caning has been part of Singapore criminal law since 1824, and has generally been used against those convicted of begging; possessing, selling or dealing in pornography; treason; rape and other violent offences. In 1966, caning was made mandatory for those convicted of vandalism. This signalled a major departure from the traditional approach to caning that had hitherto been subject to judicial discretion. The government clearly considered caning an important deterrent in its fight against crime. By 1973, caning had become mandatory for about 30 crimes as a result of the enactment of three pieces of legislation: the Misuse of Drugs Act, the Dangerous Fireworks Act and the Vandalism Act. Today, caning is mandatory for over 40 different offences including rape, robbery, drug- trafficking, possession of offensive weapons, vandalism and illegal overstaying. Caning is discretionary for offences such as rioting, extortion, living off the immoral earnings of another, manslaughter, causing hurt, and certain road traffic offences.

The offender to be caned is stripped naked, tied down to a trestle in a right- angled position so that he is in a bent- over posture with his buttocks in the air. The caning is carried out by a specially trained officer who uses a rattan cane 1.2 m long and 1.3 cm thick. The cane is struck across the bare buttocks of the offender. The lower spine and kidney areas are protected by padding. The cane is soaked in water the night before to stop it from splitting or from shearing the skin, and is treated with antiseptic before being used. The caning is carried out privately, but a number of officers including a medical officer will be present. The medical officer may stop the caning if he believes the prisoner unfit to continue to be caned. If that happens, the matter is reported to the court, which can choose to remit the caning or sentence the offender to imprisonment in lieu of the strokes not carried out.

Only males aged between 16 and 50 can be caned. Foreigners are not spared. One of the mostly widely reported canings was that of American teenager, Michael Fay, who was convicted of vandalism in 1994.