The Police have arrested 17 women and a man, aged between 26 and 38, their suspected involvement in vice-related activities.
In October 2017, officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division raided 8 residential units in Hougang and Sembawang and arrested these 18 individuals for offences under the Woman’s Charter. Cash amounting to about S$8,400, and mobile phones were seized as case exhibits.
Preliminary investigations revealed that these 17 women were believed to have advertised their sexual services via online websites and operated within the residential areas. As for the man, it was established that he had allegedly visited one of the residential units to collect rental from two of the female suspects and was thus arrested for a related offence under the Women’s Charter.
Investigations will also be carried out against the house owners.
Any person who contravenes the offence of being the tenant, lessee or occupier or person in charge of a brothel and the offence of keeping, managing or assisting in the management of a brothel under Section 148 of the Women’s Charter, Chapter 353, are liable on conviction to a fine of up to a maximum of $10,000, or to imprisonment of up to five years, or both. In addition, any person who contravenes the offence of knowingly living wholly or in part on the earnings of the prostitution of another person, e.g. receiving rental earnings from the prostitutes, is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years and shall also be liable to a fine not exceeding S$10,000.
The Police will spare no effort in clamping down on online vice activities. The Police would also like to advise house owners to exercise due diligence in ensuring that their tenants do not carry out vice activities in their units.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
27 October 2017 @ 6:44 PM