KIDNAP FOR RANSOM CASES

Mr Leong Horn Kee asked the Minister for Home Affairs and Second Minister for Law whether there is a rise in the number of reported kidnap for ransom cases in Singapore in the last few years, and, if so, what actions have been taken to curb this type of crime.

The Minister for Home Affairs and Second Minister for Law (Prof. S. Jayakumar): Mr Speaker, Sir, in the last 10 years there were only three cases of kidnapping for ransom. One was in 1977, another in 1979, and the last one was reported in February this year. There is therefore no significant rise in the number of such reported cases. All the three cases have been solved with the arrest of the kidnappers. The recent case reported in February, 1985, was alleged to have been committed by someone known to the victim's family, and not by any organized gang of kidnappers.

Sir, the law provides severe penalties for this offence. Under the provisions of the Kidnapping Act, a person convicted of kidnapping for ransom shall be punished with death or imprisonment for life and, if not sentenced to death, shall also be liable to caning. The Police have been effective in dealing with such cases, which are investigated by the Special Investigations Section of the CID which has the necessary expertise to deal with delicate and complex investigations.

The record shows that all 34 cases reponed to the Police since 1959 have been solved. Sir, the punishments provided by the Kidnapping Act and the success of the Police in dealing with these cases have had the desired deterrent effect.