Government may consider chemical castration for sex offenders, if proven effective: Shanmugam

The Government remains open to considering the use of chemical castration in combating sex crimes, Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam said in a written reply to a parliamentary question on Tuesday (Sept 8).

Aljunied GRC MP Gerald Giam asked if the Government would review statutory penalties and increase deterrence in dealing with sexual offences against children and youth.

"We remain open to considering measures including pharmacological anti-androgen treatments, also known as chemical castration, if it is clear that such measures are effective in bringing down crime rates," Shanmugam, who is also the Coordinating Minister for National Security, said.

"So far, the evidence is not conclusive on that."

He had earlier stressed that the Government takes a serious view of sexual crimes, highlighting the heightened penalties when victims are minors.

If found guilty of rape involving a minor under the age of 14, perpetrators face between eight to 20 years' jail and at least 12 strokes of the cane.

For outrage of modesty against a minor under the age of 14, it is up to five years' jail, fine and caning, he said, adding that the penalty is higher if the minor was hurt or restrained.

"These are heavy penalties, which send a strong signal to deter such offences," Senior Minister Shanmugam commented.

He pointed out the Sentence for Enhanced Public Protection (SEPP) which came into effect on July 31, 2026.

Under the SEPP, offenders who have committed serious violent or sexual offences, including rape and sexual penetration of minors, and who pose a substantial risk of reoffending will be detained for a minimum term between five and 20 years.

Only when the Ministry of Home Affairs determines — with the help of a psychiatrist — that they are no longer a threat to the public will they be released.

Register of those convicted of serious offences

He also said that the police currently maintain a record of individuals who have been convicted of serious offences, including sexual ones.

However, this list remains non-public and is only shared with selected agencies such as the Ministry of Social and Family Development and Ministry of Education, where roles require high contact with children and youth.

Individuals applying to roles in such agencies would be screened as part of the approach that balances safeguarding children and reintegrating ex-offenders into society.

"The Government has been considering the possible expansion of the scope of screening to cover more types of roles involving contact with children and young persons, including whether to introduce voluntary screening for unregulated sectors," SM Shanmugam said.

"We will share more details when ready."

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khooyihang@asiaone.com