The Police have arrested 84 women and 15 men, aged between 18 and 49, for suspected involvement in vice-related activities. A man and two women, aged between 56 and 84, are assisting in Police investigations.
Between 4 and 18 January 2024, officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the seven Police Land Divisions conducted coordinated raids at 55 locations island-wide, including massage establishments, beauty salons, hotels and residential units. Out of the 102 subjects who were investigated for offences under the Women’s Charter 1961 and Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1991,15 are vice abettors.
During the operations, mobile phones, vice-related paraphernalia, cash amounting to more than S$27,000 and one motor vehicle were seized.
A 44-year-old man was charged in court on 9 January 2024 under Section 146(1A) and Section 146(1) of the Women’s Charter 1961. Another 23-year-old man was charged in court on 10 January 2024 under Section 420 of the Penal Code 1871 for allegedly deceiving the landlord into believing that he was the rightful party leasing his premise that was used for operating an unlicensed massage establishment Investigations against other subjects are ongoing.
Under 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 of 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. Where the person is a repeat offender, he will be liable on conviction, to a fine not exceeding $150,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years or to both. In addition, any person who –shall be punished on conviction with imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years and shall also be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $100,000.
Under 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. Where the person is a repeat offender, he shall be liable on conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years and shall also be liable to a fine not exceeding $150,000.
Anyone who rents a unit from the premise owner with no intention to stay there, and subsequently passes the keys to unknown persons in exchange for a payout will be liable for the offence of cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code carries a punishment of an imprisonment term of up to ten years, a fine, or 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. 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 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.
Deputy Director, CID, Assistant Commissioner of Police Yeo Yee Chuan expressed his appreciation to all officers involved for their professionalism and excellent teamwork during the operations. The island-wide anti-vice operations are part of Police’s ongoing efforts to keep Singapore safe and secure. Vice syndicates have leveraged technology to facilitate their operations and extended their reach. Their modus operandi is becoming increasingly sophisticated, and they operate their activities remotely, often from overseas. The Police will continue to partner with the community and members of the public to tackle vice-related activities and will spare no effort to clamp down and take tough enforcement actions on vice syndicates.
Image of cash seized during one of the operations ▼
Image of vice-related paraphernalia seized during one of the operations ▼
Image of the motor vehicle seized ▼
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
02 February 2024 @ 10:00 AM