Five men and four women, aged between 38 and 55, will be charged in court on 18 May 2018 for separate cases under the new Massage Establishments Act 2017 (MEA 2017). These cases were uncovered during a two-week islandwide operation conducted by the six Police Land Divisions from 1 to 14 March 2018.
Investigations revealed that seven of the defendants are believed to have operated massage establishments without valid licences. The remaining two defendants, who are operators of licensed massage establishments, are believed to have contravened provisions under the new MEA 2017, including vice related offences. Charges may be filed against several other licensed and unlicensed massage establishments for offences uncovered during the same above-mentioned islandwide operation.
The MEA regulates massage establishments to prevent them from being used as fronts for vice activities and causing law and order problems. MHA has enhanced the regulatory regime and this will allow the Police to take tougher action against unlicensed massage establishments and errant licensed massage establishments, while reducing the regulatory burden for lower-risk massage activities and compliant massage establishments.
Under the new MEA 2017, those found operating unlicensed massage establishments will face significantly higher penalties. First-time offenders could be fined up to $10,000 – 10 times higher than before – and face imprisonment of up to two years, or both. Repeat offenders could face penalties that would be doubled or more, a fine of up to $20,000 or face imprisonment of up to five years, or both.
Once an errant tenant has been convicted of the offence, the landlord must take reasonable steps to get the errant tenant to hand over the premises within a month, or face the same penalties.
The Police will continue to intensify enforcement checks and take firm action against errant licensed massage establishment operators and those operating unlicensed massage establishments. The Police will also take firm action against landlords who knowingly lease their premises to tenants who operate unlicensed massage establishments.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
18 May 2018 @ 8:40 AM