The Police have conducted enforcement operations against massage establishments on 14 August 2018 located at Orchard areas.
During the enforcement operations, officers from Tanglin Police Division arrested five women, aged between 29 and 53, for offences under the Women’s Charter and two premises were found to be operating as unlicensed massage establishments.
Anyone who is found guilty of keeping, managing or assisting in the management of a brothel shall be liable to a fine not exceeding S$3,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both and in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding S$10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to both.
The Police will continue to take tough enforcement action against unlicensed massage establishments. Operators of unlicensed massage establishments are liable to enhanced penalties under the new Massage Establishment Act. If convicted, first time offenders may face a fine of up to $10,000, or imprisonment of up to 2 years, or both. For repeat offenders, they will be liable to a fine of up to $20,000, or imprisonment of up to 5 years, or both.
The Police may also issue the 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 while court proceedings against them are 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 to a fine of up to $10,000, or imprisonment of up to 2 years, or both. For repeat offenders, they will be liable to a fine of up to $20,000, or imprisonment of up to 5 years, or both.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
17 August 2018 @ 10:35 PM