Singapore

Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is a modern city-state and island country in Southeast Asia. It lies off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula and is 137 km (85 mi) north of the equator. The country's territory consists of the diamond-shaped main island, commonly referred to as Singapore Island in English and Pulau Ujong in Malay, and more than 60 significantly smaller islets. Singapore is separated from Peninsular Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to the north, and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the Singapore Strait to the south. The country is highly urbanised, and little of the original vegetation remains. The country's territory has consistently expanded through land reclamation.

Sex laws

Under Singapore's Penal Code, it is an offense to obtain commercial sex with a minor under 18 years of age, with a penalty of up to seven years imprisonment or a fine or both (Section 376B). It is also an offense to communicate with another person for the purpose of obtaining commercial sex with a minor under 18 years of age, with a penalty of up to two years imprisonment or a fine or both (Section 376B). It is also an offense for a Singapore citizen or permanent resident to do these acts while outside Singapore (Section 376C). Printing, publishing or distributing any information that is intended to promote commercial sex with a minor, or to assist any other person to do this is also an offence, with a penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment or a fine or both (Section 376E). Neither the Penal Code nor the Explanatory Statement define "commercial sex", however. Sex with children where commercial gain is apparently absent would not be criminalized by that legislation.

However, it is an offense to sexually penetrate a minor under 16, including causing a minor under 16 to penetrate any person, with a penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment or a fine or both (Section 376A). The penalty is increased to up to 20 years imprisonment and a fine or caning if a person commits the offense against a person under 14 years of age (Section 376A(3)).