Tito Isaac & Co LLP acted for a young offender, Mr Seyfqan Nazeer Caffoor, in his appeal against sentence in the Singapore High Court. The High Court’s decision offers an important reminder that while scam-related offences must be taken seriously, young offenders should not automatically be deprived of the opportunity for rehabilitation.

At the age of 18, Seyfqan was lured by the promise of easy money and agreed to hand over access to a bank account he had opened after being offered $800 through Telegram. He never received the promised payment. The account was subsequently used in connection with scam activities.

In its seminal judgment, the High Court set out the sentencing framework for young offenders in scam cases. The Court reaffirmed that rehabilitation remains the presumptive primary sentencing consideration for young offenders, even in the context of Singapore's growing battle against scams.

While acknowledging the need for deterrence in sentencing scams-related offenders, the Court rejected a "one-size-fits-all" approach. Instead, it emphasised that each case must be assessed individually, taking into account factors such as the offender's age, culpability, family support, risk of reoffending, and rehabilitative prospects.

In Seyfqan's case, the High Court found that this was a single isolated incident, that he had no antecedents, posed a low risk of reoffending, and had strong family support. Accordingly, the Court overturned his sentence of Reformative Training and substituted it with probation and community service, allowing his rehabilitation to be conducted within the community.