Singapore's severe law little match, there was an example, the famous music master Kitaro because of long hair(in Singapore, hair ear is illegal), also be refused entry, was forced to cancel the concert. In particular, have no equal in this world, is Singapore's physical punishment -- flogging, in civilized countries, which is "There remained but a single one.". In Singapore, there are thousands of male criminals sentenced to caning every year.

Caning history

The criminal law system in Singapore from the UK and British India's criminal law. Singapore prisons Commission survey in 1948 recorded the following prison rules: "for serious violations of the rules of the prison inmates, the prison authorities sentenced Ratan highest 12 whip, or origin inquisition judge sentenced Ratan highest 24 whip; for minors under the age of 15 can be made, the judge sentenced the prison fine rattan whip 6. The site is the hip caning. For adult offenders use Ratan diameter not more than a half inch, the minor crime should be the use of Hosoto." Scourge is 12 meters long, 1.3 cm thick.

Application of flogging

In Singapore, even littering, smoking in public places, do not rush Toilet will be severely several thousand dollars, but also be prosecuted. But, fortunately, the misdemeanor not also sentenced to caning. At least 40 charges, caning is mandatory punishment (will judge the flogging, not deductible), has used flogging crimes list is extended, which include rape, robbery, drug trafficking and other crimes including lesser crimes such as illegal possession of weapons (swords, daggers, count), graffiti on the wall (including spray paint or make the posted on the wall advertising, posters) etc..

For many the misdemeanor, caning is "optional punishment", whether flogged by the judge. These charges including riot, blackmail and impose exactions on prostitution, shelter, killing and wounding. Some of the crime of causing traffic casualties in the third repeat also sentenced to caning. Although for some crimes, caning is non compulsory punishment, but the judge will invariably sentenced to caning. Such as "indecent assault (the so-called insult women)", the judge said if the criminal murdered women's genital contact, at least should be sentenced to 9 months in 3 whip.

Caning is always accompanied by the prison, never (or basically not separate penalty). If the offense as a male and a female, the plot is the same, female only sentenced to imprisonment, and prisoners in prison also sentenced to caning. The provisions of the Criminal Execution Act, each trial can be sentenced to 24 lashes under. Flogging prisoners to a comprehensive physical examination before, have high blood pressure or heart disease are exempt from flogging, but actually to be exempt from the lash of the very few people, only an average of six a year.

Flogging day

Because sentenced to flogging prisoners too, Singapore prison to set up a fixed day, sentenced to flogging prisoners unified execution, in the day will be flogging prisoners were required to squat in a row in the caning outside, waiting for execution.

According to the punished people memories, some say a group of 10 prisoners, some say there are 20. According to calculation, Paihao on prisoners to wait a long time, especially when in front of a prisoner sentenced to 15 lashes of the whip above even the highest 24. The long wait will deepen the heart of fear and worry.

Bede (a pseudonym) have been involved in gang crime in Changi prison by 10 whip, he accepted the newspaper reporters said in 1991: "that morning, about 10 people called to check. No one tells us why the examination, but we all know that in mind. After a medical examination, we were back to his cell, heart fear. I have been to the prisoners in the unwritten rules, the torture never cry for mercy. After lunch, rest for a moment, our group of people were brought to the caning room. 10 people were ordered to wait squat in the hallway. Wait for the prisoners feel really terrible, we all hope that their first victim, to end it all, at least not watching other people tortured himself afraid."

Caning room

Caning room is very spacious, high ceiling, floor and shiny. There is a desk in the far end of the room, prison officials, sitting on the table after the supervision and execution. At the other end of the room stands caning rack. Caning rack is 2.74 meters high, made of wood, very strong. As mentioned before, a wood base stand for prisoners under the gallows. The prisoner will be all tied up in a rack, two guards standing on both sides to serve.

Singapore law of flogging a complete set of "ceremony". Not only the presence of whipping guards, prison officials and senior field command. The prisoner lashed does not let the other prisoners to see, but there are a lot of prison officer at the scene, including the warden, director of several other guards, prison discipline, a prison doctor, male nurse or medical assistant, and of course the caning executive officers.

According to a flogging prisoners memories, when the prisoners "record", the executioner will practice first, in a model of the human body warm up.

Peter on his "to be called" experience is so say: "call to my number, I pretend as if nothing had happened. But I will not walk, the prison issue shirt was wet with perspiration. The guards in the Grindhouse coach whip sound too scary. I was called into the house, saw 6 people in the room, two police officers, one of the doctors, and the three is the execution officer. I saw a bunch of scourge."

Executioner

The executioner are specially trained. They were tall, muscular Qiu knot, some are fighting or martial arts master.

Caning officer to go through training before they start all. The main training by prison caning officer and prison doctor et al, have let these be disciplined officers know how to make the greatest degree of pain with the prisoner, and permanent damage minimum degree. In the training, improve the skills of guards by whip sandbags, dummy and banana trees. Even in the formal execution guards didn't wear uniforms, wearing a T-shirt, this is to give the body the greatest degree of free space.

A former whipping guards said in an interview, he in the 60's work, each prisoner for a new subsidy. He once played 60 whip. In the 90's, caning subsidies has risen to every prisoner 10 to 20 yuan per month, and beyond normal wages and $20 bonus.

Before execution, scourge will soak in water overnight, so that the full absorption, enhance flexibility. Bureau of prisons said this was because the drying scourge may fracture at the execution, once broken cane wood thorn will be tied to the prisoners in the meat. The prison authorities said, before rumors about the "scourge soaked in brine or special potion" is not correct, but actually disinfectant wipe off.

Caning requirements executioner each whip out to, regardless of the victim's age or gradation of crimes. Director of Singapore before the Bureau of prisons in 1974 Guo Shili said at a press conference:"...... Disciplined, execution of prison police is the weight of the body, but is not only the arm. He clasped the scourge, whirl round arm, with the foot as the pivot turn half a circle, the heavy hand."

Collected from various aspects of the data, the technique of guards whip means is varied, and there is no uniform standard. "Mike Fay was written" pointed out that the whip:"...... Some guards took a deep breath, turned in a semicircle, accurate shot; some run of three step, leveraging the hand; and like standing out the whip. This is the execution of the individual style, like (tennis player) someone like serve and volley, some people like to keep in line, people play ball, a volley shot. The guards can pick them feel easy, convenient whiplash style, personal style can also accept."

Guo Shili said:"...... The execution of the technology is very high. There will be no two whip in the same place. After a whip than the previous one whip slightly high or low, like machines accurately in criminal ass neatly arranged...... My boys will use chalk in the ass painted on the road -- for caning for shot time and accuracy requirements are very high in practice, which is the same as the golf."