The Police will be charging ten errant massage establishment operators for their suspected involvement in operating unlicensed massage establishments.
During enforcement operations conducted by Clementi Police Division, the Police found 10 exempted massage establishments to have breached the exemptions conditions under the Massage Establishments (Exemption) Order 2018. The exempted massage establishments purportedly installed curtains, partitions, or rooms inside the premises, which allowed for massages to be administered in private, which were not in adherence to the Massage Establishments (Exemption) Order 2018.
Operators of exempted massage establishments are required to comply with all the exemption conditions under the Massage Establishments (Exemption) Order 2018. Failing to comply with any of the exemption conditions will result in the operators being deemed as operating an unlicensed massage establishment.
Ten operators of the exempted massage establishments found in breach of the exemption conditions will be charged in court on 10 October 2022 for the offence 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 2017.
Individuals found guilty 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 2017, may be liable to a fine of $10,000, imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or both. Repeat offenders found guilty of operating an unlicensed massage establishment may be liable to a fine not exceeding $20,000, imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years, or both.
The Police will continue with our regular enforcement checks on massage establishments and perpetrators will be dealt with in accordance with the law.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
09 October 2022 @ 9:00 PM