The Police have arrested nine women, aged between 20 and 41, for offences under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act during an enforcement operation against unlicensed massage establishments and public entertainment outlets along Kitchener Road, Purvis Street Beach Road and Foch Road on 21 June 2018.
During the operation conducted by Central Police Division, two unlicensed massage establishments were detected with one establishment allegedly found to be offering sexual services. A 41-year-old woman was arrested for working without a valid work permit at the massage establishment. One public entertainment outlet was found to have contravened licensing conditions. Eight women, aged between 20 and 32, were arrested for working without valid work permits
Actions will be taken against the operators for flouting the rules and regulations under the Public Entertainment Act and Massage Establishment Act (MEA).
The Police will continue to take strong enforcement actions against unlicensed massage establishments, as well as errant licensed massage establishments.
The operators of the unlicensed MEs will be investigated and are liable for the enhanced penalties under the new MEA. If convicted, first time offenders will be sentenced to a fine of up to $10,000, or imprisonment of up to two years, or both. The maximum penalties for subsequent convictions will be doubled or more – a fine of up to $20,000, or imprisonment of up to five years, or both.
The Police may also issue a premises closure order to require an unlicensed ME to be vacated and physically secured, if the operator continues to operate the unlicensed ME, even after he has been charged in court. If the order is not complied with, the Police are empowered to take necessary steps, and use reasonable force, to enforce the closure of the premises.
Anyone who breaches the order may face a maximum fine of $15,000, or imprisonment of up to 3 years, or both. These orders will prevent recalcitrant unlicensed ME operators from blatantly breaching the law whilst court proceedings against them are still ongoing.
The Police will also take action against landlords who knowingly lease their premises to unlicensed ME operators. The Police will notify the landlord when their tenant has been charged in court for operating an unlicensed ME. After the conviction of the tenant, the landlord must require the tenant to hand over possession of the premises within a month.
Landlords, who fail to do so, will be liable, if convicted, to a fine of up to $10,000, or imprisonment of up to two years, or both. The maximum penalties for subsequent convictions will be doubled or more – a fine of up to $20,000, or imprisonment of up to five years, or both.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
22 June 2018 @ 10:20 PM