The Police have conducted an island-wide anti-crime operation targeted at pivoted KTV lounges to suppress vice and other illegal activities. Between 13 and 15 July 2021, 27 pivoted KTV lounges currently operating as F&B outlets were checked. A total of 281 persons found within the premises of these outlets were also checked during the operation. Twenty-nine women, aged between 20 and 47, of various nationalities, were arrested for alleged offences under the Women’s Charter, the Immigration Act, and the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.
During the operation, Police also conducted checks to ensure that the pivoted KTV lounges had adhered to prevailing Safe Management Measures (SMMs) under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020. Eleven outlets were found to have possibly breached SMMs. Please refer to Annex A for the list of outlets.
Under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020, all F&B operators have to ensure that physical interaction between customers, visitors and their workers is minimised, and are not allowed to provide any form of public entertainment or recorded music. In addition, all sales and consumption of liquor must end before 2230hrs. The Singapore Food Agency will consider revoking the food licences of pivoted operators found to have committed egregious breaches of SMMs. Establishments whose food licences are revoked must cease operations with immediate effect. The Police will also not hesitate to take enforcement action against errant operators, including taking further regulatory actions such as revoking any existing Public Entertainment Licence and/or Liquor Licence. Establishments that have these licences revoked will not be able provide public entertainment and/or sell liquor even when there is a class resumption of the nightlife sector.
For non-compliance with SMMs under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020, offenders may be jailed for up to six months, fined up to S$10,000, or both.
Ten Persons to be Deported
Following the Police’s anti-crime operation conducted on 13 July 2021, ten women, aged between 21 and 34, of various nationalities, have had their short-term visit passes or work passes cancelled and will be deported.
These ten women were arrested together with ten other women on 13 July 2021 for working without a valid work pass or flouting the conditions of their work pass. They had served as social hostesses within three pivoted KTV lounges operating as F&B outlets and intermingled with different groups of patrons. Investigations revealed that one of these women had also mingled with a patron at another pivoted KTV lounge that was recently ordered to close for deep cleaning and disinfection. By engaging in these prohibited activities, they had blatantly breached SMMs under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020. The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has deemed the ten women as undesirable immigrants under the Immigration Act. Their passes have been cancelled, to invalidate their stay in Singapore. Short-term visitors cannot engage in any form of employment (paid or unpaid), or in any business, profession or occupation in Singapore. Upon their deportation, they will be barred from re-entering Singapore. Investigations into the remaining ten women are ongoing.
Members of the public and businesses are advised to take SMMs seriously. The Police have zero tolerance of irresponsible behaviours relating to the flouting of these measures and offenders will be dealt with firmly.
Annex A – List of Pivoted KTV Lounges found to have breached SMMs
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
16 July 2021 @ 11:58 PM