The maximum jail term for outrage of modesty is to be raised from two to three years, and the maximum penalty for sexual communication with minors to be raised from a year to two years’ jail.

Singapore’s law minister K Shanmugam said the proposed changes were a result of a review of penalties for hurt and sexual offences, the Straits Times reported.

Shanmugam said that offenders will not receive lighter sentences just because they have higher educational qualifications or better prospects.

“This means, if you touch a woman inappropriately without her consent, if you upload intimate images of an ex-girlfriend or any other woman, if you video record a woman showering, you must face serious consequences in law,” he was quoted as saying.

“You shouldn’t be able to come to court and say you have a bright future, you will go far and so on. You can go far. But first serve the sentence.”

Shanmugam said the review was carried out following public uproar over several cases in recent years in which offenders were seen to have been let off easy because they were university students.

He said the review also called for a deterrent stance to be taken against adult offenders who commit certain hurt and sexual offences.