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Section 354 of the Singapore Penal Code is familiarly known as the outrage of modesty law.

The statute provides that if any person uses criminal force on any person intending to outrage, or knowing it would be likely to outrage, the modesty of that person, he shall be imprisoned for a maximum of 2 years, or with fine, or with caning, or with any 2 of such punishments.

Section 354 requires that the police or someone be touched. However, if no physical contact is made, homosexual behaviour can also be charged under Section 294A.

Wording[]

It states[1]:

Assault or use of criminal force to a person with intent to outrage modesty

354.—(1) Whoever assaults or uses criminal force to any person, intending to outrage or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby outrage the modesty of that person, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 2 years, or with fine, or with caning, or with any combination of such punishments.

[51/2007]

(2) Whoever commits an offence under subsection (1) against any person under 14 years of age shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 5 years, or with fine, or with caning, or with any combination of such punishments.

[51/2007]

[Indian PC 1860, s. 354]

Punishment[]

The case of Chandresh Patel v Public Prosecutor (1995) is the well-established benchmark with 9 months' imprisonment plus caning as a starting point.

Use on gay men[]

See also[]

References[]

Acknowledgements[]

This article was written by Roy Tan.