The Police have arrested four women and six men, aged between 21 and 41, during an enforcement operation against unlicensed massage establishments and public entertainment outlets along Telok Ayer Street, Stanley Street, Bali Lane, Victoria Street, Middle Road, Bencoolen Street, North Bridge Road, Dalhousie Lane, Circular Road, Boat Quay, Robinson Road and Raffles Boulevard on 27 June 2018.
During the operation conducted by Central Police Division, four unlicensed massage establishments were detected with two establishments allegedly found to be offering sexual services. Three licensed massage establishments were found to be operating in contravention of the licensing conditions. Four men, aged between 24 to 29, were arrested for working without valid work permits. A 41-year-old man was also arrested for employing a foreigner without a valid work pass under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.
During the enforcement checks on public entertainment outlets, four outlets were found to have contravened licensing conditions. Four women, aged between 21 to 33, were arrested for working without valid work permits. A 23-year-old man was also arrested for suspected consumption of controlled drugs and obstructing a police officer from discharging his duty.
Actions will be taken against the operators for flouting the rules and regulations under the Public Entertainment Act and Massage Establishment Act (MEA).
The Police will continue to take strong enforcement actions against unlicensed massage establishments, as well as errant licensed massage establishments.
The operators of the unlicensed massage establishments will be investigated and are liable for the enhanced penalties under the new MEA. If convicted, first time offenders will be sentenced to a fine of up to $10,000, or imprisonment of up to two years, or both. The maximum penalties for subsequent convictions will be doubled or more – a fine of up to $20,000, or imprisonment of up to five years, or both.
The Police may also issue a premises closure order to require an unlicensed massage establishment to be vacated and physically secured, if the operator continues to operate the unlicensed massage establishment, even after he has been charged in court. If the order is not complied with, the Police are empowered to take necessary steps, and use reasonable force, to enforce the closure of the premises.
Anyone who breaches the order may face a maximum fine of $15,000, or imprisonment of up to 3 years, or both. These orders will prevent recalcitrant unlicensed massage establishment operators from blatantly breaching the law whilst court proceedings against them are still ongoing.
The Police will also take action against landlords who knowingly lease their premises to unlicensed massage establishment operators. The Police will notify the landlord when their tenant has been charged in court for operating an unlicensed massage establishment. After the conviction of the tenant, the landlord must require the tenant to hand over possession of the premises within a month.
Landlords, who fail to do so, will be liable, if convicted, to a fine of up to $10,000, or imprisonment of up to two years, or both. The maximum penalties for subsequent convictions will be doubled or more – a fine of up to $20,000, or imprisonment of up to five years, or both.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
28 June 2018 @ 8:05 PM