The Police have arrested five men, aged between 20 and 33, for various offences during an enforcement operation against public entertainment outlets located along Serangoon Road, North Bridge Road, Kitchener Road, Aliwal Street, Soloman Street, Middle Road, Dunlop Street, Circular Road and Beach Road on 17 September 2022.
During the joint operation by the Central Police Division, the Criminal Investigation Department and the Central Narcotics Bureau, a total of 16 public entertainment and nightlife establishments and 134 persons were checked. Five men were arrested for the following offences:
- A 24-year-old man was arrested for being a suspected member of an unlawful society under Section 14(3) of the Societies Act 1966;
- A 20-year-old man was arrested for suspected consumption of controlled drugs under Section 8(b) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1973;
- A 25-year-old man was arrested for suspected possession of an offensive weapon in a public place under Section 6(1) of the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapon Act 1958;
- A 33-year-old man was arrested for allegedly behaving in a disorderly manner in public under Section 20 of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act 1906; and
- A 25-year-old man was arrested for allegedly being in employment without a valid work pass under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990.
A total of seven licensed public entertainment outlets were also found to have committed various breaches under the Public Entertainments Act 1958.
Police investigations against the five individuals and the operators of the seven public entertainment outlets are ongoing.
Anyone found guilty of being a member of an unlawful society under Section 14(3) of the Societies Act 1966 shall be liable to an imprisonment term of up to three years, a fine of up to $5,000, or both. The offence of possession of an offensive weapon in a public place, punishable under Section 6(1) of the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapon Act 1958, carries an imprisonment term of up to three years and caning of not less than six strokes.
The offence of disorderly behaviour, punishable under Section 20 of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act 1906, carries a fine of up to $2,000, imprisonment for up to six months, or both; for subsequent offences, the offence carries a fine not exceeding $5,000, imprisonment of up to 12 months, or both. Under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990, the offence of being in employment without a valid work pass carries a jail term of up to two years, a fine of up to $20,000, or both.
The Police will not hesitate to take action against errant operators or members of the public who commit crime in public entertainment outlets. The Police will continue to carry out regular enforcement checks on public entertainment and nightlife establishments to suppress illicit activities, suppress criminal and secret society activities. Members of the public are also advised to steer clear of any unlawful activities, and to report those engaging in such unlawful activities to the Police immediately.
A male subject arrested and escorted to the vehicle
Officers conducting checks at one of the public entertainment outlets
Officers conducting checks at one of the public entertainment outlets
A male subject arrested at one of the public entertainment outlets along Beach Road
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
24 September 2022 @ 10:30 AM