Following a series of enforcement operations by the Central Police Division between June 2017 and July 2018, nine errant massage establishment operators will be charged in court on 17 October 2018 for flouting provisions under the repealed Massage Establishments Act, Chapter 173, as well as the Massage Establishments Act 2017 and Massage Establishments Rules 2018.
The nine operators, four men and five women aged between 41 and 61, comprise six unlicensed massage establishment operators and three licensed massage establishments licensees.
The massage establishments involved are located along South Bridge Road, Prinsep Street, Orchard Road, Keong Siak Road, Rangoon Road, Dunlop Street, Jalan Besar, Jalan Sultan, Tanjong Pagar Plaza and Middle Road.
Unlicensed Massage Establishments
Six unlicensed massage establishment operators will be charged under the repealed Massage Establishments Act, Chapter 173. During the enforcement operation, vice activities were detected at five of the six unlicensed massage establishments.
Five of the operators will be charged with carrying on an establishment for massage without a valid licence. One of the five operators will face an additional offence of employing a foreigner to work, without a valid work pass, under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, Chapter 91A. If found guilty under the repealed Massage Establishments Act, Chapter 173, they shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000.
One operator will be charged with carrying a business for massage service in an establishment for massage without a valid licence. The said operator was previously charged and convicted in Court in 2016, for committing the offence, under the repealed Massage Establishments Act, Chapter 173, and deemed as a repeat offender, under the Massage Establishments Act 2017. If found guilty, she shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to both.
Licensed Massage Establishments
Three licensed massage establishment licensees will also be charged under the repealed Massage Establishments Act, Chapter 173, as well as the Massage Establishments Act 2017 and Massage Establishment Rule 2018. The violations include:
Failing to ensure that there must be no locking device for the doors of the massage or treatment rooms in accordance with condition 8, of the repealed Massage Establishments Act, Chapter 173
Failure to ensure that at least 80% of the masseuse/therapists have the required certification recognised by the Licensing Officer in accordance with condition 18, of the repealed Massage Establishments Act, Chapter 173
Employing an individual to work in the establishment for massage without the approval of the Licensing Officer in accordance with section 13(1), of the Massage Establishments Act 2017
Failing to ensure that every employee of the licence must not, in the course of the individual’s employment at the establishment for massage, provide, or offer to provide, any sexual service to any other individual in the establishment for massage in accordance with Rule 12(1)(a), of the Massage Establishments Rules 2018
Failing to ensure that, before providing any massage services to any individual seeking massage in an establishment for massage, the licensee of the establishment for massage must require the individual to furnish the individual’s full name, identity card number or particulars of passport, nationality, and the date and time of the individual’s arrival at the establishment.
The Police takes a serious view of anyone found breaking the law and will continue to take tough enforcement stance against such activities.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
16 October 2018 @ 4:15 PM