‘Not the time to go soft’: Shanmugam signals tough laws for young scam mules after High Court ruling
A recent High Court ruling gave young mules probation and community sentences, contradicting sentencing guidelines.
Senior Minister K. Shanmugam has signaled the introduction of tough new laws to ensure stricter sentences for individuals who facilitate scams, regardless of their age. This follows a High Court ruling that granted young scam mules probation and community sentences, which Shanmugam said should not be the precedent for similar cases.
He emphasized that while scammers bear the ultimate responsibility, young mules play a crucial role in enabling these scams, often lured by monetary incentives. Shanmugam noted that the cost of scams has been particularly devastating for elderly victims who have lost their life savings. He highlighted that many young mules are aware of the wrongdoing but are enticed by the promised monetary rewards.
The High Court's ruling in September 2023 allowed probation for young offenders, a decision Shanmugam criticized as inconsistent with sentencing guidelines. He stated that if young offenders are treated leniently due to their age, it will incentivize scam syndicates to recruit more young people as mules. The government aims to introduce new laws that prioritize deterrence and prevention for scam offences, acknowledging the significant financial losses caused by scams, which have amounted to over $4 billion since 2019.
Despite a slight decline in scam losses, the problem remains significant, with scams costing victims an average of $2 million daily in the first half of 2026. Shanmugam also mentioned the involvement of over 1,000 young people in scam-related offenses in 2025 and an alarming number of elderly victims who have lost substantial amounts to scams.
He noted that while some young offenders may have been genuinely misled, the priority should remain on preventing further financial losses to victims.
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