When someone threatens to inflict bodily injury, property damage or damage to reputation upon you or your close ones, such a threat may amount to criminal intimidation in Singapore. The primary reason behind the threat must be made with an intention to cause alarm or to coerce the victim to do something unwillingly.
Let’s see an example of Criminal Intimidation cases to understand this better. 28-year-old ABC obtained nude photographs of women on an online website focusing on Singapore. Then he contacted them on Facebook under the name of XYZ. After sending them their nude photographs, he started threatening to circulate those photographs to their friends and family members if they did not agree with his demands for sex. After doing this with several women, ABC went a step further by threatening to circulate a particular victim’s photographs online if she made any attempt to “block” him. This is a clear cut case of criminal intimidation in Singapore.
Now you must have understood what Criminal Intimidation means from the above example. Let’s simplify it further, while making a threat against someone may seem harmless, but that threat could potentially land you in prison. Even if the intention was just to scare the person and would not have followed through with it.
Criminal intimidation or assault is committed when someone threatens to cause injury to either the body, reputation or property of a person or the body or reputation of anyone that person knows while intending to A) Cause alarm, B) Cause that person to do any act that he is not legally required to do or C) Stop that person from doing an act that he is legally entitled to do, according to section 503 of the Penal Code.
If a person is found guilty of committing criminal intimidation or assault, under section 506 of the Penal Code the punishment meted out is up to 2 years jail, or a fine, or both.
Aggravated threats of criminal intimidation such as threat to cause death or grievous hurt and threat to destroy property with fire could warrant an imprisonment term of up to 10 years, or a fine, or both.
If you threatened someone via anonymous communication, such as a false online profile, your punishment for criminal intimidation (under section 506 of the Penal Code) could be enhanced with up to 2 additional years of prison, for a maximum jail term of 4 years, under section 507 of the Penal Code.
All forms of criminal intimidation are arrestable offences according to Singapore Penal Code. An arrestable offence means the police can arrest a suspect without a warrant.
For example, the police will be able to arrest you without obtaining a warrant from the court, if your victim makes a police report stating that you have threatened to kill them.
Bishop Law, as one of the best criminal law firm in Singapore, we are ready to fight for you regardless of your situation. We are specialists for crimes like Criminal Intimidation . We always try to get the best possible outcomes for our clients either through strategic negotiations with the Public Prosecutor or by battling till the very end at trial to ensure you receive justice.
Disclaimer: The article can not be considered as legal advice or opinion on the topic which has been discussed and one should not rely on it. In no way, it should be taken as the statement of law and practice in this area. If you need any legal advice you should consult a lawyer in your jurisdiction. None of the members, partners or consultant who is a part of Bishop Law assumes or holds any responsibility or liability, to any person in respect of the content shared above.
Read more: Best Guide on Protection from Harassment Act of Singapore