The Police will be charging an 81-year-old man for his suspected involvement in operating an unlicensed massage establishment along Hougang Street 21.
On 17 April 2020 at about 12.50pm, the Police were alerted to an unlicensed massage establishment in operation at a HDB block along Hougang Street 21 during Circuit Breaker. Through follow-up investigations, officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division established that the man had allegedly operated the unit for the purpose of providing massage services without a valid licence and had purportedly failed to ensure that his employee did not provide sexual services. The man also allegedly operated another unlicensed massage establishment along Aljunied Avenue 2.
For operating two unlicensed massage establishments, the man will be charged in court on 20 January 2021 with two counts of carrying on a business of providing massage services in an establishment for massage without a valid licence under Section 5(1) of the Massage Establishments Act. He will also be charged with Rule 12(1)(a) punishable under 12(2) of the Massage Establishments Rules 2018 for failing to ensure that his employee did not provide sexual services. In addition, for continuing the operation of the unlicensed massage establishment, a non-permitted enterprise, during the Circuit Breaker, he would be charged under Regulation 11 of the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020.
Under the Massage Establishment Act 2017, the offence of carrying on a business of providing massage services in an establishment for massage without a valid licence carries a fine not exceeding $10,000, or an imprisonment of up two years, or both. For repeat offenders, the offence carries a fine not exceeding $20,000, or imprisonment of up five years, or both. Any person who contravenes Rule 12(1)(a) punishable under 12(2) of the Massage Establishments Rules 2018 shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000. For repeat offenders, the offence carries a fine not exceeding $10,000, or imprisonment of up two years, or both.
Under Section 11 of the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020 which was in force during the time of offence, a person who is not an essential service provider or a worker of an essential service provider must not carry on any business undertaking or work from any premises other than at the person’s ordinary place of residence, and only through means that do not require meeting any other individual in person. For first time offenders, the offence carries a fine not exceeding S$10,000, or an imprisonment for not exceeding six months or to both. For repeat offenders, the offence carries a fine not exceeding S$20,000, or imprisonment of up 12 months, or both.
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.
The Police take a serious view against any person who may be involved in such illicit business operations and perpetrators will be dealt with in accordance to the law.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
19 January 2021 @ 2:15 PM