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Misperception that the rich and educated get away with crimes: Amrin Amin

SINGAPORE — There is a misperception that the rich or those who are better educated get away lightly for their crimes and there is a need to dispel such notions, said Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Home Affairs Amrin Amin.

Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Home Affairs Amrin Amin said there was a need to dispel the notion that if you're rich or educated, you get away lightly for your crimes.

Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Home Affairs Amrin Amin said there was a need to dispel the notion that if you're rich or educated, you get away lightly for your crimes.

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SINGAPORE — There is a misperception that the rich or those who are better educated get away lightly for their crimes and there is a need to dispel such notions, said Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Home Affairs Amrin Amin.

“Whether you're rich or you're educated, you do not get away easily. The law applies, regardless of our backgrounds or income levels,” he said in response to questions raised by Member of Parliament (Nee Soon GRC) Lee Bee Wah on Monday (Feb 3).

Dr Lee in Parliament on Monday said that there was public perception that university students get away from their crimes lightly and easily.

To illustrate her point, she cited an example of a 31-year-old man who was jailed four weeks in December last year after he pleaded guilty to filming upskirt videos at the Woodlands Checkpoint.

In comparison, she highlighted the case of a 25-year-old National University of Singapore (NUS) student who was only suspended by the university for photographing female students showering.

“Why is there such discrepancy and are we sending the wrong signal?” asked Dr Lee.

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In response, Mr Amrin said that the differences in sentencing could be a result of individual cases.

“There may be specific circumstances in a case that merits a different punishment or treatment,” said Mr Amrin, who is also Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Health.

“So I think it's not wise to draw conclusions based on one or two cases, and it's important that we send a very strong message that the rich do not get away easily or lightly for any type of crime, including sexual offences.”

Dr Lee then reiterated her point that the perception is not just the rich who get away with crime. “It is: ‘If you are in a university and you got a bright future, we don’t want to ruin your future.’ So you get away easily,” she said.

“That is the public perception. So how do we deal with this?”

Mr Amrin replied that his point still stands and that society should not “draw a certain conclusion based on one or two cases”.

“It's an important issue that we need to address together,” he said. “Whether you're rich or you're educated, you do not get away easily.”

“The law applies, regardless of our backgrounds or income levels, and it's important that we continue to dispel such misperception,” stressed Mr Amrin.  

REHABILITATION FOR YOUNG SEX OFFENDERS 

Earlier on Monday, Mr Amrin answered a parliamentary question filed by Dr Lee on what rehabilitation measures young sex offenders are subjected to during their time in prison or remand to prevent recidivism.

Mr Amrin said that the Singapore Prison Service runs a psychology-based programme to help sex offenders better manage their interpersonal relationships and emotions and address their negative sexual attitudes.

He said that at the end of the programme, offenders are guided to develop individualised relapse prevention plans.

“Sex offenders in prison also attend other programmes, such as those to build better relations with their families, which will help their overall rehabilitation and reintegration,” he said.

As for offenders who are on court-ordered probation, Mr Amrin said that the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) works with probationers and their families to develop intervention plans, including treatment programmes.

“The family and community play a key role in providing support for and monitoring the progress of the probationer,” he said.

Some examples of intervention plans include the Positive Adolescent Sexuality Treatment Programme and the Positive Psychotherapy Group which Mr Amrin said equip the probationers with skills to improve their relationships, emotional coping and sexual regulation.

“MSF’s research has found that for youths, who are at a developmental phase of sensation-seeking and impulsivity, their likelihood of re-offending is low when they have received appropriate treatment,” he said.

Dr Lee had also asked if there were plans by the authorities to work with universities and schools to conduct outreach and introduce relevant material into the curriculum to prevent sex-related offences from occurring.

Mr Amrin said there is an ongoing effort by the Singapore Police Force to engage schools and universities to prevent sexual offences.

Such efforts include crime prevention talks on sexual offences in schools, advising universities on security measures and conducting joint patrols with campus security.

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law income social class sex offenders Amrin Amin

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