• The Mandarin term “强制性监禁” is a paraphrase of the English term “mandatory imprisonment”.
• According to the Singapore Penal Code, if the accused is found guilty of committing a crime, the judge must impose a sentence equal to or greater than the minimum term of imprisonment for the crime committed.
• Under the Penal Code, mandatory imprisonment serves to achieve two goals: first, the deterrence on society at large; second, the prevention of the criminal’s ability to cause more harm to society.

The accused was a bankrupt who contravened the Wholesome Meat and Fish Act. While the usual punishment only results in a fine, the prosecutor requested for mandatory imprisonment due to the scale of his offence. (Lianhe Zaobao, 1/1/2023)

强制性最低刑罚 (Mainland China, Hong Kong)