The Law on Sexual Offences in Singapore: A Commentary | 2025

The Law on Sexual Offences in Singapore: A Commentary | 2025

This book is the first in-depth publication focused exclusively on the law governing sexual offences in Singapore. In recent years, there has been a general increase in such offences, which continue to be a major concern for law enforcement. Alongside this trend, penalties for sexual offences have become more severe, and new offences have been introduced—some of which address challenges arising from technological developments.

In response to this evolving legal landscape, the book examines the key legislation relating to sexual offences, incorporating the most recent statutory changes. It explores common evidentiary and procedural issues specific to sexual offence cases and compiles an extensive range of sentencing precedents along with applicable sentencing frameworks. Additionally, it provides critical commentary on selected legal and policy issues that may warrant reform.

This comprehensive resource is essential for criminal law practitioners, scholars, and government officials involved in the prosecution, defence, or study of sexual offences.

The rationale for this book is two-fold. First, there have been recent changes to the Penal Code 1871  (“Penal Code”) in 2019  and more recently in 2022.  Apart from the stiffening of sentences in respect of, among others, the offence for outrage of modesty which is “probably the most common [sexual] offence”,  new offences were introduced, including offences intended to tackle emerging and evolving technology trends (such as voyeurism-related offences and the offence of sexual communication with a minor below 18 years of age); offences to increase protection for minors aged 16 to 18 where there is an element of sexual exploitation; and offences relating to child abuse material (for which there was only previously a “patchwork of laws” to address such offences). … It is fair to say that the criminal landscape on sexual offences has significantly evolved in recent years and this book seeks to, among other things, explore and analyse these material developments. Second, there has been a reported rise generally in the number of sexual offenders arrested and/or prosecuted in Singapore … Against this backdrop, we believe that a dedicated text on sexual offences is timely and relevant. … [A]part from being a repository for legal principles, evidence and procedure for sexual offences, it is the humble ambition of this book to facilitate the application of the sentencing frameworks and, ultimately, promote clarity, consistency and fairness in the sentencing of sexual offenders.

The authors of this book have sought to fill the gap in the existing academic literature with a comprehensive text dedicated to the law on sexual offences in Singapore. The book is noteworthy for both the breadth and depth of its coverage. The scope of this book extends from the principles governing consent and capacity to consent, to the procedural and evidential issues that arise in cases involving sexual offences, to the law on specific sexual offences (to which several chapters are devoted) and finally to the principles of sentencing and sentencing options for sexual offences. With the salutary objective of promoting clarity and consistency in the treatment of sexual offenders, the book also offers a repository of sentencing precedents for each of the offences discussed ... I am confident that it will be a valuable resource for all who need to navigate this important area of the law. – Sundaresh Menon CJ

Contents of The Law on Sexual Offences in Singapore: A Commentary

Chapter 1: Introduction 
Chapter 2: Consent and Capacity to Consent 
Chapter 3: Unusually Convincing Standard 
Chapter 4: Outrage of Modesty 
Chapter 5: Technology-facilitated Offences 
Chapter 6: Sexual Offences Against Minors 
Chapter 7: Offences Relating to Child Abuse Material 
Chapter 8: Rape 
Chapter 9: Sexual Assault Involving Penetration 
Chapter 10: Procedural Safeguards for the Complainant and Offender 
Chapter 11: Sentencing Objectives and Options