Singapore legislation

Section 377CB

of Penal Code 1871

Section 377CB

Consent given under misconception in sexual offences

Amended by15/201915/2019

(1)

Despite section 90(a)(ii), a consent for the purposes of an act which is the physical element of a sexual offence is not a consent given by a person under a misconception of fact only if it is directly related to —

(a)

the nature of the act, namely that it is not of a sexual nature;

(b)

the purpose of the act, namely that it is not for a sexual purpose; or

(c)

the identity of the person doing the act,and the person doing the act knows, or has reason to believe, that the consent was given in consequence of such misconception.

Amended by15/2019

(2)

In subsection (1) —

Amended by15/2019

Definition

“sexual” has the meaning given by section 377C(3);

Definition

“sexual offence” means any offence where the physical element of the offence under this Code or any other written law involves an act of a sexual nature and includes but is not limited to any offence under sections 375 to 377BN.Illustrations (a) A deceives B into allowing him to penetrate her vagina by inducing the misconception that he is extracting an evil spirit from B’s body. B believes A and thinks that what she has consented to is a procedure to extract an evil spirit, not sexual intercourse. B has given her consent under a misconception as to the sexual nature of the act. B’s apparent consent is therefore not a valid consent. (b) A deceives B into believing that he can heal B’s chronic disease by treatment involving sexual penetration. B gives her consent under the misconception that the act is treatment for a health purpose and not for a sexual purpose. B’s apparent consent is therefore not a valid consent. (c) A deceives B into believing that A is her husband. A is an imposter. B consents to sexual intercourse with A because she believes A is her husband. B’s consent is given under a misconception of the identity of A and is therefore not a valid consent. (d) A deceives B into believing that A is an influential movie director. A is in fact only an administrative assistant to that movie director. B consents to sexual intercourse with A because she believes A is that movie director. B’s misconception is as to A’s attributes and not of A’s identity. B’s consent is therefore a valid consent.

Amended by15/2019
Section 377CB — Penal Code 1871 | laws.sg