The Police have arrested 27 men and 201 women, aged between 18 and 58, for their suspected involvement in vice-related activities.
Between 1 September and 31 October 2024, officers from the Criminal Investigation Department, seven Police Land Divisions, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (‘ICA’) and Ministry of Manpower (‘MOM’) conducted coordinated raids at multiple locations island-wide, including commercial premises, massage establishments, beauty salons, hotels, residential units and key transport nodes. The operation resulted in the arrest of 228 persons for their suspected involvement in various offences under the Women’s Charter 1961, Immigration Act 1959, Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990, Payment Services Act 2019, and Penal Code 1871. Amongst the 228 persons, 35 are vice abettors.
Two men and one woman, aged between 33 and 38, have been charged in court for offences under the Women’s Charter 1961, for allegedly facilitating the operation of syndicated vice activities. The 33-year-old man was charged on 23 October 2024. The 38-year-old man and the 35-year-old woman were charged on 14 September 2024. Investigations against other persons are ongoing.
Under Section 146A of the Women’s Charter 1961, any person who, in the course of business, uses a remote communication service with a Singapore link to offer or facilitate the provision by a woman or girl to another person for sexual services in Singapore in return for payment or reward, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $100,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to both.
Under Sections 140(1)(b), 146(1) and 146(1A) of the same Act, any person who - (i) procures any woman for the purpose of prostitution; (ii) knowingly lives wholly or in part on the earnings of the prostitution of another person; and (iii) knowingly solicits, receives or agrees to receive any gratification as an inducement or reward for providing any service, and who by providing that service does or will aid the prostitution of another person, shall be punished on conviction with imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years and shall also be liable to a fine not exceeding $100,000.
Under Section 376B of the Penal Code 1871, any person who obtains for consideration the sexual services of a person, who is below 18 years of age, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years, or with fine, or with both.
Under Section 5(1) of the Payment Servies Act 2019, anyone who carries on a business of providing any type of payment service in Singapore without a licence shall be punished on conviction to a fine not exceeding $125,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to both and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $12,500 for every day or part of a day during which the offence continues after conviction.
According to Section 5(2) of the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, any foreigner who works without a valid work pass shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both.
Additionally, under the Housing & Development Board’s (‘HDB’) terms and conditions, HDB flat owners are responsible for conducting regular checks to ensure that their tenants do not misuse the flat, further rent out any part of the flat, or create nuisance to their neighbours by using the flat for vice activities. HDB takes a serious view of flat owners and tenants who violate such conditions, particularly if the flat is misused for vice activities, and will not hesitate to take the appropriate action against them.
A premise owner or the agent of an owner of a premise (includes private property and HDB units) who knowingly rents the premise to any person for vice-related activities can be prosecuted under Section 148 of the Women’s Charter and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $100,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to both and, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding $150,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years or to both.
The island-wide anti-vice operation is part of the Police’s ongoing effort to keep Singapore safe and secure. The Police will continue to partner with the community and members of the public on the information submitted regarding vice activities and will take tough enforcement action against those involved in such activities.
Photos of vice-related paraphernalia and arrests made during the operation ▼
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
07 November 2024 @ 7:45 PM