12 women and a man, aged between 23 to 46, were arrested under the Women’s Charter for suspected involvement in vice-related activities in residential areas.
In August 2017, officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division raided 5 residential units in Kovan, Sembawang, and Yishun areas. Other than the arrests, cash amounting to S$1,560, mobile phones, and related documents were seized as case exhibits.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the 12 women were believed to be advertising sexual service via online websites and operating within the residential areas. A man was arrested as he is believed to have assisted in the management of the vice activities in one of the residential unit.
Investigations will also be carried out against the house owners.
Any person who contravenes the offence of being the tenant, lessee or occupier or person in charge of a brothel and the offence of keeping, managing or assisting in the management of a brothel under Section 148 of the Women’s Charter, Chapter 353, are liable on conviction to a fine of up to a maximum of $10,000, or to imprisonment of up to five years, or both. In addition, any person who contravenes the offence of knowingly lives wholly or in part on the earnings of the prostitution of another person, e.g. receiving rental earnings from the prostitutes, is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years and shall also be liable to a fine not exceeding S$10,000.
The Police will spare no effort in clamping down on online vice activities, especially those operating in the heartlands. The Police would also like to advise house owners to be diligent in ensuring that their tenants do not carry out vice activities in their units.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
07 September 2017 @ 12:50 PM