Singapore, where spitting in public and selling chewing gum is illegal, has long been known for its strict laws.

Now, scammers and recruiters for scam groups face a legal crackdown that allows them to be punished with six to 24 strokes of the cane — a penalty usually reserved for rapists and drug traffickers.

Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs, Sim Ann, who presented the bill before it passed this week, said scams accounted for 60 percent of all criminal activity in Singapore.

Other offenses that already carry the penalty of caning include rape, drug trafficking and illegal moneylending. The punishment only applies to male offenders under the age of 50.

Judicial caning was introduced to Singapore during British colonial rule in the 19th century and, far from phasing it out, th

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