The Government of Singapore has defended the punishment as a traditional part of the country's legal system. The caning strained Singapore's relations with the United States and has been seen as largely responsible for the United States' voting against holding the first summit meeting of the World Trade Organization in Singapore next year.

After confessing to vandalism, Mr. Fay was sentenced to four months in jail and six strokes with a half-inch-thick rattan cane on two counts of vandalism and possession of stolen road signs. The sentence was later reduced to four strokes.

After his confession, Mr. Fay contended that he had been coerced by police officers into saying he had spray-painting cars. The Government of Singapore denied that.

Mr. Fay had lived with his mother and stepfather in Singapore since 1992 and had attended the Singapore-American School. After being freed from prison on Tuesday, he returned to his father's home in this suburb of Dayton. Description of Caning

He said he had first looked at the scars in a mirror only two days ago. "I got a shiver down my back," he said, "and I couldn't believe I might have them for the rest of my life."