Singapore Law & Crime Prevention Advisory for Students

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Singapore Law & Crime Prevention Advisory

Singapore Law & Crime Prevention Advisory

Essential information for Student’s Pass Holders in Singapore

Important: A criminal record may severely impact your entry and job prospects in Singapore. Contravening any laws can result in being charged in court and could lead to the cancellation of your Student’s Pass.

STAY CRIME-FREE: PROTECT YOUR FUTURE

Shop Theft

Shop theft is a serious offence.

  • Always pay for your items before leaving the store.
  • Encouraging or challenging others to steal is also an offence (abetment).
  • Most retail shops and supermarkets have CCTV cameras.
Penalty: Imprisonment for up to 7 years and may also be liable to fine.

Unlicensed Moneylending (UML)

  • Do not borrow money from unlicensed moneylenders.
  • Don’t engage in unlicensed moneylending activities.

Unlicensed moneylenders may recruit through social media to harass borrowers:

  • Ceding control of bank accounts/SIM cards
  • Damaging and defacing properties
  • Making monetary transactions
  • Locking up residences with chains/locks
Penalty: Fine of up to $300,000 and imprisonment for up to 5 years.

For more information: https://go.gov.sg/spf-umi

Molestation (Outrage of Modesty)

Molestation is a serious offence.

  • Respect others’ personal spaces and boundaries.
  • Touching someone inappropriately without consent is traumatizing for victims.
Penalty: Imprisonment for up to 3 years, a fine, caning, or any combination.

Forgery

Forgery is a serious offence.

  • Never alter or create fake documents (IDs, passes, certificates).
  • With advanced verification technologies, you will be detected.
Penalty: Imprisonment for up to 10 years and may also be liable to fine.

Remember: Crime does not pay. You will face the full brunt of the law if you commit crime.

BEWARE OF SCAMS TARGETING STUDENTS

Government officials will NEVER do these over a phone call:

  • Ask you to transfer money
  • Transfer your call to the Police
  • Ask you to disclose bank log-in details
  • Ask you to install mobile apps from unofficial app stores

If you receive an SMS from the government, make sure it is sent from the gov.sg SMS sender ID.

Do Not Be A Money Mule!

A money mule is someone who allows criminals to:

  • Control their banks or other payment accounts
  • Allows accounts to receive or transfer monies under criminal’s instructions

Our payment accounts are for our own use only:

  • Do not disclose your payment accounts/credentials to anyone else.
  • Do not let anyone else access, operate or control your payment accounts.
  • Do not receive or transfer money for anyone else using your payment accounts.
Penalty: Fine of up to $250,000, imprisonment of up to 5 years, or both.

Don’t be a SIM Card Criminal!

A SIM card criminal is someone who misuses their eSIM/SIM Card by:

  • Selling SIM cards
  • Allowing others to use their SIM cards
  • Helping others register SIM cards
  • Holding onto multiple SIM cards

Your SIM card is for your own use only.

Penalty: Up to $10,000 in fines, up to 3 years’ jail, or both.

Learn more: www.go.gov.sg/misuse-of-sim-cards

If you are unsure if something is a scam

Call and check with the 24/7 ScamShield helpline at 1799.

Remember, do not transfer any money, and stop the call immediately to verify directly with the government agency.

PROTECT YOURSELF

You do not need to be a victim of crime

Remember: Your safety is in your hands. Stay vigilant and take proactive steps to protect yourself and your community.

Safe Guard Your Belongings

  • Never leave items unattended, even briefly.
  • Keep valuables secure and out of sight.

Report Sexual Crimes

  • If you or someone you know is a victim, act immediately.
  • Tell a trusted adult and report to the police without delay.

Stay Alert

  • Be aware of your surroundings at all times.
  • If you spot any suspicious persons or situations, report to the Police immediately.

Be Scam-Smart

  • Never disclose your personal and banking information, including OTPs to anyone.
  • Always check directly with the government agency or company to verify requests.

Singapore Laws Overview

Smoking Regulations

Smoking is prohibited in many public places, especially near educational institutions.

Penalty: Fine up to $1,000

Littering Laws

Singapore has strict laws against littering in public places.

Penalty: Fines for various littering offenses

Work Regulations

Student’s Pass holders have restrictions on working in Singapore.

Violation can lead to pass cancellation

HDB Rental Rules

Strict occupancy caps apply to HDB flat rentals.

Approval required before renting

Tobacco Laws

Strict regulations on tobacco and e-vaporisers.

Penalty: Fines and imprisonment

Smoking Regulations

Prohibition in Educational Institutions

Under the Smoking (Prohibition in Certain Places) Act, smoking is prohibited in:

  • Autonomous Universities’ compounds
  • Private Education Institutions (PEIs)
  • Within five metres of educational institutions including:
    • Kindergartens and child care centres
    • Primary and secondary schools
    • Junior colleges and polytechnics
    • ITE campuses and madrasahs
Penalty: Any person who smokes in any specified place or vehicle shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000.

Composition of Offences

The Director-General may compound offences by collecting from the person reasonably suspected of having committed the offence a sum not exceeding $500.

Littering Laws

Prohibition Against Littering

No person shall:

  • Deposit, drop, or throw any refuse in any public place
  • Keep or leave any article where particles may pass into public places
  • Dry any article of food in any public place
  • Place any offensive or filthy matter that may run into public places
  • Beat, clean or agitate any substance that may be carried by wind to public places
  • Throw or leave behind any bottle, can, food container or wrapper
  • Spit any substance or expel mucus onto any street or public place
  • Discard or abandon any motor vehicle, furniture or bulky article in public places
Any person who contravenes these regulations shall be guilty of an offence.

Working in Singapore

Restrictions for Student’s Pass Holders

According to ICA and MOM regulations, Student’s Pass holders are:

  • Not to engage in any form of paid employment in Singapore during the validity of your Student’s Pass
  • Not allowed to engage in any business, profession or occupation without a valid work pass

Important: Beacon International College is not on MOM’s list of approved institutions for work pass exemption.

For more information, refer to:

  • Student’s Pass Terms & Conditions
  • Work Pass Exemption for Foreign Students

HDB Rental Occupancy Cap

Occupancy Regulations

From 1 May 2018, the occupancy cap for HDB flats:

  • 4-room and larger flats: Maximum of 6 persons (reduced from 9)
  • 3-room and smaller flats: Maximum of 6 persons for 3-room, 4 persons for smaller flats

Important: All flat owners must obtain HDB’s prior approval before renting out their flats or bedrooms.

These changes aim to minimize disamenities caused by overcrowding and maintain a conducive living environment.

For more information, refer to: HDB Revision of Rental Occupancy Cap

Tobacco and E-vaporiser Regulations

Prohibited Tobacco Products

From 1 February 2018, the following are prohibited:

  • Purchase, possession and use of emerging and imitation tobacco products
  • This includes e-vaporisers
  • Earlier prohibitions on importation, sale and distribution remain in effect

Penalties for sale, importation or distribution:

  • First offence: Fine up to $10,000 or imprisonment up to 6 months or both
  • Second or subsequent offence: Fine up to $20,000 or imprisonment up to 12 months or both

Penalties for possession, use and purchase:

  • Fine up to $2,000

Emergency Contacts

Dial ‘999’ only for emergencies requiring immediate Police response.

Other Police Contacts

Non-emergency Police hotline: 1800 255 0000

Submit information online: www.police.gov.sg/iwitness

Scam Reporting

ScamShield Helpline: 1799 (24/7)

If you’ve been scammed, report it immediately to your bank and the Police.

Useful Resources

This message is jointly brought to you by the Singapore Police Force and the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority.

© 2023 Singapore Law & Crime Prevention Advisory for Students